IT'S been a slow start to Black Friday in St Helens but there are still plenty of discounts in stores across the town centre.

Some stores opened at 6am anticipating an early morning stampede but it is expected that shoppers may leave it til later in the day before they decide to go bargain hunting.

Over the past few years Black Friday had become synonymous with crowds of people desperately trying to get their hands on discounted items.

The Ambulance service even issued a warning to people to take extra care when out and about. Asda was one major retailer which said that it would not take part in Black Friday after "listening to its customers".