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(From Belfast Telegraph)
Byline: Peter Cardwell and Brendan McDaidnewsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
FRANTIC last minute Christmas shopping in Belfast and across Northern Ireland today brought to a close a period of bumper festive buying - defying earlier predictions of a gloomy season for retailers.
With shoppers from the Republic travelling north in search of better value, cross-border custom provided an extra boost to businesses.
Buyers were further tempted by early reductions in some stores.
One of the first stores to open its doors this morning for the last-minute rush was Marks & Spencer in Donegall Place, Belfast, which was trading by 6am.
Store manager Peter Phillips said that around 500 mainly food shoppers had entered the store in the opening hour of business, many to collect turkey orders.