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Scraps, scrums and huge queues: The amazing black and white pictures that show post-Christmas sales through the decades

The infamous sales have been around for almost a century

Sophie Roberts

Published: 13:20, 24 Dec 2016
Updated: 14:30, 24 Dec 2016

FORGET Black Friday and the usual Boxing Day sales scrum - these stunning black and white pictures capture the festive frenzy of the pots-Christmas sales through history and they’ll make you feel relieved that online shopping available now.

From punters running into stores to find the best deal, to shoppers being packed-like sardines on Oxford Street, here’s how the January sales tradition has evolved through the years.

1920s:

1921: Crowds of shoppers swarm Regent Street, central London — 1921: Crowds of shoppers swarm Regent Street, central LondonCredit: Getty Images

1924: Bargain hunters rummage through clothes in Harrods — 1924: Bargain hunters rummage through clothes in HarrodsCredit: Rex Features

1925: Women wait outside a store in Kensington, London for the doors to open for the January sales — 1925: Women wait outside a store in Kensington, London for the doors to open for the January salesCredit: Getty Images

1930s:

Shoppers hit the sales in High Street Kensington in the 1930s — Shoppers hit the sales in High Street Kensington in the 1930sCredit: Rex Features

1933: Gordon Fellowes Sunday Dispatch journalist at Barkers Sale — 1933: Gordon Fellowes Sunday Dispatch journalist at Barkers SaleCredit: Rex Features

1935: A crowd of bargain hunters shopping for hats in the January sales at Whiteley's department store, Bayswater, London — 1935: A crowd of bargain hunters shopping for hats in the January sales at Whiteley's department store, Bayswater, LondonCredit: Getty Images

1940s:

1940s: Shoppers looking for offers at The C&A Store sale in Manchester — 1940s: Shoppers looking for offers at The C&A Store sale in ManchesterCredit: Rex Features

1940s: Crowds gather in The C&A store sale in Manchester — 1940s: Crowds gather in The C&A store sale in ManchesterCredit: Rex Features

1949: Women fight over items of clothing in a January sale on Oxford sale — 1949: Women fight over items of clothing in a January sale on Oxford saleCredit: Getty Images

1950s:

1950s: Bargain hunters swarm in as the doors are opened at the beginning of the Modes Sale at C & A department store at Marble Arch, Oxford Street, London — 1950s: Bargain hunters swarm in as the doors are opened at the beginning of the Modes Sale at C & A department store at Marble Arch, Oxford Street, LondonCredit: Getty Images

1956: People celebrate the opening of the January sales with some televisions — 1956: People celebrate the opening of the January sales with some televisionsCredit: Getty Images

1950s: Doors open at the beginning of the Modes Sale at C & A department store at Marble Arch, Oxford Street, London — 1950s: Doors open at the beginning of the Modes Sale at C & A department store at Marble Arch, Oxford Street, LondonCredit: Getty Images

1960s:

1960s: People make a grab for the crockery at Selfridges Department Store sale, London — 1960s: People make a grab for the crockery at Selfridges Department Store sale, LondonCredit: Rex Features

Selfridges' shoppers try to elbow their way to the bargains — Selfridges' shoppers try to elbow their way to the bargainsCredit: Rex Features

1967: Customers queuing for cut-price cigarettes at a supermarket in Birmingham — 1967: Customers queuing for cut-price cigarettes at a supermarket in BirminghamCredit: Getty Images

1970s:

1977: Crowds of shoppers race into Debenhams Department Store for start of their sale — 1977: Crowds of shoppers race into Debenhams Department Store for start of their saleCredit: Rex Features

1977: Shoppers struggling in the china department of Harrods on the first day of the sale — 1977: Shoppers struggling in the china department of Harrods on the first day of the saleCredit: Getty Images

Mr Graham Freeman and his family with their sofa which was reduced in the Debenhams Of Oxford Street Sale — Mr Graham Freeman and his family with their sofa which was reduced in the Debenhams Of Oxford Street SaleCredit: Rex Features

1980s:

Keen shoppers attempt to get the best post-Christmas deals on Oxford Street, 1980 — Keen shoppers attempt to get the best post-Christmas deals on Oxford Street, 1980Credit: Rex Features

Selfridges' china department is jam-packed during the January sales of 1980 — Selfridges' china department is jam-packed during the January sales of 1980Credit: Rex Features

Crowds of people queue outside HMV trying to find a bargain in the 1980s — Crowds of people queue outside HMV trying to find a bargain in the 1980sCredit: Rex Features