Sales fever hit Bradford yesterday with some people queuing for bargains five hours before shops even opened their doors.

At Empire Electrical Megastore in Ingleby Road about 80 people braved the freezing weather and eagerly awaited the store's opening at 9.30am.

Staff offered hot drinks to shoppers who stood in the cold.

Firdous Khan, 32, and friends Ilyas Khan, 23, and Niaz Khan, 22, were at the head of the queue and had been waiting since 4am.

"I saw an advert for TVs and videos which is what I am here for," said Firdous. "We came from Huddersfield and are absolutely frozen, but it will be worth it when we get them. You can save £800 on the TV and £100 on the video."

Muzafar Shah, 28, had queued since 6.45am. "I saw an advert in The Target and I live close by, so I thought I would come down and have a look," he said.

Robert and Pam Stammers, of Wyke, also joined the queue in the hope of getting a cheap mini hi-fi.

"It is my wife's Christmas present and I had to come to pay for it," said Mr Stammers. "We got here just before 9am so we haven't waited for too long.

"We are hoping to get a bargain. They are usually £90 or £100, but they are advertising a half-price sale, so it will be worth it."

Bargain hunters also queued at Curry's in the Forster Square Retail Park, pictured. Roy Harrison, of Denholme, and Andrew Leigh, of Bradford, were hoping to get their hands on a DVD player reduced from £299 to £99.

"I got here at 8am," said Mr Harrison, 54. "This is a one-off. I don't usually come to the sales, but there are only ten on offer so I thought I'd better get here early."

Ian Waller and his son Ben, of Calverley, also got up early, as did Alan Bott, of Swain House - all to get their hands on the DVD players.

One woman from Shipley had taken advantage of her son's Christmas visit and taken him along to help her choose a new computer. "I have put a limit on £1,000, but I'll see what sales offers they've got on," she said.

Andy Fox, of Pudsey, was hoping to get a digital camera half-price after seeing them advertised.

"They are usually about £300, but I'm hoping to get one for about £150," he said.

"At that kind of price it is fairly hard to resist, and I was determined to get here early!