IT WAS a spend, spend, spend Christmas as dole queues failed to dampen the festive fling. Shops were packed in the seasonal build up.

Customers were even prepared to queue outside to stock up with last minute goodies and managers reported bumper takings.

A spokesman for Asda, Colne, said: "It was bedlam. People were queueing outside before we opened and the check-outs were solid all day."

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