People flocked to the centre of Inverness at the weekend as the Christmas shopping rush started in earnest.
The manager of the city’s main shopping centre said their car park was packed on Saturday and Sunday.
Jackie Cuddy said that Friday had also proved busy in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, because of the so-called “Black Friday” effect.
The US tradition of sales starting on the Friday after Thanksgiving has transferred to the UK for the first time this year and big retailers cut prices on many items.
However, Ms Cuddy said yesterday that the centre did not have the queues experienced elsewhere in the country.
She said that Debenhams was particularly busy because of a special promotion launched especially for Friday.
Ms Cuddy said: “Black Friday definitely gave us a kick-start and with it being pay weekend for many that was another boost.”
She said that she expected the tradition to be more popular in the future. She added: “The car park was full from 11am on Saturday and it has been almost full today.
“Everyone is reporting good things and there are people walking around with lots of shopping.
“I think that all retailers are giving good offers to try and entice people through the doors.”
Traffic congestion around the city was also relieved by the lifting of restrictions for the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme. Highland Council reopened Bank Street and stretches of Huntly Street on Friday to enable traders to benefit from the Christmas rush. While some work will continue close to Wells Street in Huntly Street, contractors will not return to Bank Street until the New Year.
Meanwhile, traders in Moray also had a busy weekend.
Brain Taylor, retail manager of Brodie Countryfare, said: “It’s been quite hectic. I’d definitely say it’s been the busiest weekend of 2013.
“There’s been more people coming through the doors, and they’ve been buying more as well in comparison to last year.” David Robertson, owner of the award-winning Bijou card, gift, jewellery and coffee shop in Elgin, said: “We’ve been really busy all weekend, but then we’ve been busy throughout the whole year.
“The first weekend in December is always a good one for shopkeepers because it’s the last pay day before Christmas for many people.
“We sell cards and, obviously, the run-up to Christmas is the major sales period.”