BARGAIN hunters have been heading to the sales to buy items at knock-down prices.

Sales-goers queued outside the doors of Dandy's Furniture Store, in Duke Street, Barrow, this morning - some with tape measures at the ready.

Rob Jackson, of Barrow, managed to bag himself a solid oak chest of drawers for £150 which had previously been priced at £425.

Mr Jackson said: "We like a bargain. I'm pleased with that."

Nicola Thompson, of Barrow, said she was very happy to be getting a Wentworth bed which had been £709 for the slashed-back price of £299.

Store owner Jeff Dandy, said: "All year round we are selling at keen prices so when we do one of these events people know it is right.

"Traditionally we have always had this event on December 27, so even though our pricing policy is to offer as low a price as we can on all goods, it then can make it very difficult at sale time to do much more off our normally low prices. But we still try to offer items at genuinely great prices."

Among the other bargains at Dandy's was a lounge easy chair, reduced from £559 to £99.

Mr Dandy said the store has one of the best displays of Harrison beds which had 20 per cent off the price.

Boxing Day marked the start of The Sofa Group sale, in Market Street, Barrow, which had been busy with people looking for a bargain.

People were buying sofas at 50 per cent off the normal price and oak furniture items with 20 per cent off.

Manager Jon Higham said the furniture was delivered the same day as purchased as the company had vans on standby

Mr Higham said: "We've been flat out, it was packed in here on Boxing Day, it was like a pub. We had a really good first day of the sales."

Empire Carpets, in Walney Road, Barrow, is offering free underlay with every carpet, plus free gripper rods, door plates and delivery.

Manager Jack Ray said prices at the Empire Carpets warehouse were always "down to the bare bones" every week but this Christmas and New Year there were also special offers, including the free underlay.

Stollers Furniture World, Walney Road, Barrow, has also got its Big Happy Sale under way with savings up to 30 per cent.

Barrow hospital staff who gave up time with their families to save lives on Christmas Day

Walney woman's heartbreak at death of superstar George Michael