Bargains, bargains, bargains! Hamilton shoppers were out in force yesterday in their hunt for cut-price summer goods.

Some were after longer pants for the summer, while others had their eye on the latest fashions. And for one or two it could have been a case of retail therapy - a chance to let themselves go with a spending spree!

“It a sale! And I still have more to buy,” exclaimed Katrina Burgess, spotted by The Royal Gazette as she emerged from Trimingham's in Reid Street with a huge bag.

Trimingham's was decked with an abundance of sales signs, although surprisingly the store did not seem that much busier than usual when The Royal Gazette came by.

Another Reid Street shopper, who did not want to be named or photographed, had no doubt what she was after.

“I am shopping because all of my last year's stuff is all smelly and I also want longer pants for the summer - Capri pants.”

Shopper Elsie Martin said the sales meant there was no need to go overseas.

“Everybody has a sale on now, they are all year round, they used to have them after Cup Match. It doesn't make any sense to go away any more because by the time you pay for a ticket, that they say is cheap, and then go way out to the middle of nowhere to shop, it is senseless, unless you have something specific in mind. Most things are comparable today.”

“I'm just out shopping for a few pairs of work pumps,” said Shakira Dill as she was walking up Reid Street.

Gibbons Company supervisor of the men's department, Jackie Tyler, said: “It started today, it's been busy, it's great.”

With all the sales going on, why were a few trendy boutiques not participating in the sales? “We prefer the end of season, that is our policy. It's the big companies who are having sales not the smaller companies,” said Marco Pesci, manager of Sasch.

Paul Dean, sales manager of Aston Gunn, said: “Our philosophy is twice yearly sales at the end of the seasons.”