TRADERS were today celebrating a boom in business as the sales helped dispel fears that roadworks and a new traffic system would keep shoppers out of Blackburn centre.

Although some stores said they encountered quiet spells in the run up to Christmas many were over-run when the doors opened for the post-Christmas bargain bonanza.

On Thursday shoppers queued for hours to get their hands on the bargains, and while yesterday was less hectic it was still busy.

When the orbital route and the regeneration of Church Street began in the summer, many traders feared it may sound the death knell of the town but, as trade has proved, those doubts have been allayed.

The shopping centre reported a booming trade with shoppers forming lengthy queues just to get inside the stores.

A spokesman for the centre said: "Trade has been generally good and it was extremely busy on Boxing Day. Some shops were turning customers away it was that busy."

Liz Murphy, deputy store manager at Debenham's, said early indications were that business was up on last year.

She said: "Trade was excellent on Thursday People were queuing up to get in the store at 8am and it was busy right up until we closed at 7pm. Christmas as a whole has been good, there has been an excellent growth since last year."

Mick Arcangelo, manager of River Island in the Shopping Centre, said Thursday's trade doubled what they had taken last year. He added: "Customers literally cleared the store out."

Department store Mercer & Sons, in Northgate, started their sale early this year, moving it from its traditional New Year's Day slot to Thursday, in line with the other shops. And although they anticipated a busy time, staff said they were inundated.

Rose Fowler, manager of the toy department, said: "It was a fantastic day on Thursday. Friday started a bit slow but that may have been the weather. We brought forward the sale because people have more time off between Christmas and New Year.

"On Thursday the shop was full all day. There were hundreds in. December as a whole has been good. There were a few quiet Saturdays but the weekend before Christmas was very busy.

"Some people talk about the roadworks as a problem but I don't think they put people off at all. Shoppers might have struggled to get into the town but they still came."

Shopper Mei Lang agreed. The 28-year-old from Haslingden was one of thousands of shoppers to take advantage of the sales and set the tills ringing. On her expedition she spent something in the region of £80 in the town.

She said: "Getting into Blackburn has not been a problem. I have been here since 10am and I got what I wanted."

Matthew Walmsley, of Great Harwood, grabbed himself £200 worth of bargains - for less than half the price.

The 29-year-old said: "It's busy but not too busy."

It wasn't just the main stores that reported business was booming.

Blackburn lad Andy Jones, who runs clothes shop Reef, in King William Street, said: "It was manic on Thursday, we were run off our feet all day. I've spoken to other shops in the town and they all say the same thing. If there has been problems with roadworks, nobody seems to notice."

The sound of tills jingling was music to the ears of Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Leader Coun Bill Taylor, said: "More than £7million was spent improving the infra-structure of the roads, and the basic philosophy has always been that for people who want to come to Blackburn, we will make it easier for them to get to the town.

"We have always worked alongside traders and the run up to Christmas was very successful. By all reports the days after Christmas have been even more successful which is excellent news for the town. And Blackburn Chamber of Trade president Ron O'Keeffe added: "I have been talking to quite a few people in the town and although it was late coming, the trade was quite brisk up until Christmas.

"What a lot of people have been doing is saving money for the sales and it has been very busy these past few days.

"Boxing Day was absolutely heaving which was certainly a welcome sight. Most roadworks have been completed now and the rest were suspended for the Christmas period which meant people were out and about.

"Until I talk to the shopping centre manager and a few more traders, I won't know what the actual figures are compared to last year, but it looks good."

However not everyone was celebrating. Hazel West, manager of the Famous Army and Navy store, which is actually on Church Street - the road closed to through traffic when the regeneration started - said business had slumped almost half.