Bargain hunters set the tills ringing across the region as thousands of people hit the streets to enjoy the Boxing Day sales.

Shopping centres at Exeter, Plymouth and Truro witnessed “brisk” business, while many stores also opened in smaller towns encouraging a steady stream of visitors.

John Harvey, Exeter’s city centre manager, said hundreds of shoppers were queuing at Next when it opened at 6am and Debenhams when it opened an hour later. “Overall it has been very brisk trading,” he said.

“These post-Christmas sales are extremely important to a city like Exeter,” he said.

“It’s important that we have a good launch pad for the new year.”

Mr Harvey said there were “challenges” ahead for 2012, adding that he was “very encouraged” by the scenes from Boxing Day.

Truro saw a healthy turnout of visitors enjoying some retail therapy, although Marks & Spencer, the biggest store in town, remained shut until today.

Meanwhile in Plymouth, Drake Circus was a magnet for shoppers with many waiting at the door before stores opened.

Clint Jones, Plymouth City Centre manager, said that queues for Next were “circling the shop,” and there were 200 people waiting outside River Island.

Using the social media site Twitter, he said Marks & Spencer, which did open on Boxing Day in Plymouth, was “busy but civilised”.

Nationwide, shoppers spent “record” amounts of money on Britain’s high streets while an estimated 5.6 million drivers took to the roads over the course of the day.

Traders in London’s West End said they had taken £15 million in the first three hours of the sales.