POLICE were called inafter Black Friday bargain hunting descended into chaos at a Glasgow supermarket.

Panicked staff were forced to close the doors of Tesco Silverburn shortly after midnight as crowds turned out in force for one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Officers attended after trouble broke out – including a bin outside the store being set ablaze.

Eyewitnesses said trouble flared not long after the sale began and arguments broke out over TVs – just five minutes into Black Friday.

Some described scenes of “carnage” at the 24-hour store in Pollok, as shoppers tried to grab the best deals.

Customers watched in horror as crowds rammed into the 24-hour branch and fought over cut-price gadgets.

A Tesco spokesman said: “Due to extremely high customer demand, police were called to our Glasgow Silverburn store to help manage the crowds safely.

“The store re-opened at 3.30am and customers were able to pick up the deals they had come for.”

Police, however, said that there had been no arrests.

Stores across the country started sales at midnight, boasting discounts on a range of goods.

Port Glasgow’s Tesco store also reported exceptionally high numbers of bargain hunters.

One person tweeted: “Tesco Silverburn lasted five minutes before police had to intervene.”

Jordan Menzies said: “Police at Silverburn kicking people out for fighting, it’s only been open 10 minutes.”

In one video uploaded online, shoppers could be seen pushing each other out of the way and shouting as they tried to get their hands on hi-tech goods. Arguments also broke out at Tesco Dundee as staff fought off shoppers trying to steal goods.

Another shopper, Katie Stevens, said: “Just thought I was going to die in Silverburn. Rammed with a trolley. Scraps left right and centre.”

Websites of Game, Curry, Argos, Boots and Tesco Direct have all been struggling to cope with demand as shoppers try to snap up deals.

Across the Scotland, several Tesco Extra stores, including the Dalmarnock branch, were full of customers after opening at one minute past midnight.

The Black Friday phenomenon has spread from America to the UK in recent years. In the USA, traditionally big sales occur on the first Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday.