GLASGOW stores were expected to rake in millions of pounds at the tills today as shoppers celebrated Black Friday with a spending spree.

City malls predicted massive discounts will attract tens of thous-ands of extra shoppers keen to snap up bargains.

Black Friday was first introduced in America and has got bigger in the UK after Amazon offered cust-omers special deals on 300 items in 2010. Rival retailers have copied the event ever since.

It's a day of massive cost cuts with several High Street traders slashing prices by more than half. All the main shopping centres across the Glasgow area are predicting big crowds of bargain hunters.

Anne Ledgerwood, general manager of St Enoch Centre in Glasgow, said: "With retailers offering special Black Friday deals on everything from jewellery to clothes and toys, we're expecting brisk sales throughout the day."

Some retailers at intu Braehead today halved their prices.

The mall's acting marketing manager Christine Macdonald said: "Shoppers will strike gold with some amazing bargains.

"It's like Christmas has come early for everyone and some of our money-saving offers extend to Saturday and Sunday."

Glasgow Fort predicted 15,000 extra visitors before the shops shut, while the owners of rival mall Silverburn refused to disclose numbers.

But general manager David Pierotti said: "Last year Silverburn had record-breaking footfall and we are expecting 2014 to be as busy with people snapping up the deals.

"The mall has more retailers participating than ever and will have discounts of up to 50% off and extended opening hours."

Online shopping is expected to make today Britain's best Black Friday. This time last year, web spending soared by more than 45%, according to Barclaycard which processes almost half the nation's card transactions.

Managing director Chris Wood said: "It seems UK shoppers can't resist a bargain.

"Online retailers can look forward to a successful long weekend of shopping to kick off the Christmas shopping season."

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk