Retailers in Bradford are enjoying an “exceptionally busy” start to the post-Christmas sales period on the back of unprecedented price cuts.

Since Boxing Day, bargain hunters have flocked into Bradford city centre and Forster Square Retail Park on a late spending spree.

But, despite the crowds, retailers in Bradford have admitted they were expecting a “challenging” year ahead as the reality of rising unemployment, falling house prices and economic gloom take their toll.

Many stores started cutting prices earlier than usual and it is these businesses that appear to have enjoyed the most success.

Bill McCormack, deputy manager of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, said: “We were very busy on Boxing Day and very busy again on Saturday. The picture is generally very positive.”

He said the rush was expected to taper off towards the end of the month and added that it would be interesting to see trading trends in January and February.

Although the crowds who queued for post-Christmas sales have made the high street look healthy, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the majority of shoppers were spending cautiously.

BRC spokesman Richard Dodd said: “There’s no indication that fundamentals are going to change so customers will go on being reluctant to spend and retailers will have to go on offering big discounts.”

Several stores in Bradford, including WH Smith and Ann Summers, are offering discounts of up to 75 per cent.

Paul Moss, owner of Fowler & Oldfield jewellers, in Kirkgate, Bradford, said: “It’s going really well. I am pleasantly surprised.

“We started our sales on Saturday and it kicked off immediately. I get the feeling that people have been waiting.

“It’s bound to taper off over the next few weeks and then who knows? It’s in the lap of the gods.”

Denis Bryan, manager of Ridley’s Menswear, in Darley Street, said: “We are very busy. It has been very good so far. We brought our sale in about a week before Christmas, but it has been busier since Christmas.”

SS Audio Video, based on James Street, Bradford, and also operates the Panasonic store in Darley Street, said it had been really busy since the sales began.

Kully Johal, managing director of the family-run business, said: “It has been hectic. We are moving flat screen televisions so quickly that we can’t get enough of them at the moment. They are half the price you would have paid for the corresponding television last year.

“We know it’s going to be a challenging year ahead. We have been through three recessions before and this is no different – we will still be here after this one.”

e-mail: will.kilner @telegraphandargus.co.uk