Shoppers keen to splash the cash as lockdown eases have been queuing for up to an hour at Debenhams, today, Monday.

As government restrictions on non-essential shops are lifted, punters from all over north Herts including Hitchin have been looking to pick up a bargain at the site in Stevenage.

As we reported last week, Debenhams is to reopen 97 of its high street stores including its Stevenage site from today for a 'fire sale'.

Many from Hitchin and north Herts formed part of the long queues outside the store based in the Roaring Meg Retail Park.

Keen bargain hunters targeted Debenhams after the store said it would be offering up to 70 per cent off fashion and homewares as well as up to 50 per cent off beauty and fragrance from today.

Hitchin Nub News paid a visit to the store on Monday lunchtime to be told it would be at least an hour's wait to be able to enter Debenhams.

A woman who was with a friend in the queue told us: "We are looking [for a bargain].

"We don't mind waiting, we've been looking forward to this day for ages. This counts as an exciting day out for us these days!"

Shoppers looking for a bargain will have to move fast as Debenhams decision to open its doors will only be a short lived move.

In a bid to underpin a closing down sale intended to clear stock, the company, which can trace its roots back to 1778, will finally close good for on Saturday, May 15.

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