IT’S one of the busiest shopping days in the calendar.

And Saturday did not disappoint, with thousands of Hampshire residents hitting the shops to grab some last-minute festive gifts.

With just over a week to go until Christmas Day, many battled through the hustle and bustle to grab a bargain or stock up the shelves.

WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton’s city centre was a hive of activity, with the German markets outside providing sufficient support.

Many made an early start and travelled especially for the occasion.

Mother and daughter Marie Jenks and Casey Lewis began at 9am, travelling from Thornhill in a bid to see their shopping completed.

Marie, 36, said: “We’re patient people, but today has been a nightmare.

“I’m trying to be laid back as it’s so busy.

“My mother won’t come out on the Saturday before Christmas now, she can’t handle the volume of people.

“If we can be finished by 3pm, it will be a success for me. We had a full English breakfast, but I still think we’ll need another food stop to keep going.”

People of all ages descended on the centre to visit the flagship stores such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and various others.

Husband and wife Lee and Rosemary Kitchen came down from Burridge after making the decision to brave the shops.

Lee, 46, said: “I wasn’t told of the plans until Friday night, I have no hope left. I don’t know when we’ll be finished, but I’d love it to be very soon.”

Rosemary, 40, said: “It was a last-minute decision, but we wanted to get it all done in one day and you have to start sometime.

“We left at 9am and went straight to John Lewis. We are nine presents down, but we still have a few more to go.”

The German markets outside the centre on Above Bar Street also attracted thousands of people.

Lisa Romeril, 29, flew over with her family from Guernsey.

Lisa, a factory worker, said: “We left at 8.30am on Friday, we do it every year.

“I’ve got my daughter Sophia and my mother and my sister with me somewhere who are getting their presents sorted.

“It’s certainly no quieter than last year, particularly with the markets, there will always be a lot of people around.

“You have to be patient, my mother managed to finish on Friday, but I will get there.”