The Black Friday phenomenon has spread to the UK in recent years after becoming a big hit in the U.S., where traditionally big sales occur on the first Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Today is expected to be the UK's biggest day of spending this year, with the majority of stores – both online and in the high street – heavily discounting an array of goods.
As the Black Friday begins, several UK supermarkets are experiencing fight break out among customers. The major retail websites have also crashed due to a 'huge demand' as bargain-hunters desperately try to get their hands on cut-price goods in the Black Friday sales.
Websites such as Boots,Games,Argos, Tesco and Currys have experienced technical difficulties this morning as customers frantically try to snap up discounted discounted items including everything from flat screen TVs, coffee machines and toys to home wares, furnishings and clothing.
Desperate shoppers were seen scrapping as they tried to get their hands on what appeared to be one of Tesco's best-selling market items - a Blaupunkt HD TV, which had just £60 off the original price.
The Tesco Extra store in Stretford was closed just 36 minutes after opening as staff attempted to break up fights between customers, during which one woman was injured after being hit by a falling TV.
Greater Manchester Police said two people were arrested at Black Friday sales events as they were called to seven stores across the city, before writing on its Twitter page: 'Keep calm people.'
One man was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Tesco store in Salford after allegedly telling a staff member that he would 'smash their face in'.
Another 42-year-old man was arrested over an alleged assault at the store in Tesco, Burnage, while two men were kicked out of a store in Central Park, Wigan.
Hundreds of people also refused to leave the store on Barton Road, Middleton, despite staff telling them repeatedly that all stock had been sold. At the store in Stockport Road, Hattersley, another man was arrested for a public order offence.
Shaun Thompson, 21, described how 'all hell broke lose' at the Stretford store. He said: 'Tesco had got a queueing system in place at about 11pm but that fell down pretty quickly.
'It was getting more heated by the minute and the next thing, at about ten to midnight, voices got raised. The shouting went through the roof, then all hell broke loose. They were ripping the plastic off the palettes and people started fighting.
'One girl, who can't have been more than 16, picked up some advent calendars and flung them across the shop. I saw a member of staff leaving with a black eye. It was something I would never like to experience again.'
Scotland Yard confirmed officers had been called to at least four stores in London, including in Willesden, Surrey Quays, Edmonton and Edgware, following frantic reports of crowd surges and scuffles.
