Retailers reported a sales bonanza as shoppers finally ventured out on a last-minute Christmas spending spree.

Malls and supermarkets said they were predicting record sales for the day after witnessing queues for car parks and crowded stores.

With many forced by snow to delay shopping trips - and with a VAT hike looming - payment card group Visa Europe expected today to be a record-breaker.

While final figures will not be available until tomorrow, the group expected to process around 26.5 million transactions worth more than £1.2 billion today.

Phil Steele, general manager of Eldon Square shopping centre in Newcastle city centre, said: ''It is very busy. It snowed first thing this morning and all last night but by 9am all the car parks were packed and had queues outside.''

Shoppers were also out in force at the McArthurGlen designer retail outlet centre off the M4 in Bridgend, South Wales.

Bosses at the ''shopping village'', which is home to 90 separate retail outlets, said business was brisk.

''People were forced to stay away when we had snow last week but they are certainly making up for it today,'' said Cath Letton, retail centre marketing head.

''We are very, very busy, people are out in droves, panic-buying probably.''

Last-minute shoppers in Birmingham did not appear to be put off by the freezing conditions.

With the snowfall relenting, managers at the Bullring shopping centre said they were anticipating record numbers of people through the doors in the hunt for festive bargains.

General manager Tim Walley said: ''Today we expect to see in the region of 200,000 visitors to the centre as they take advantage of our final full trading day before Christmas.''

The giant Meadowhall shopping centre, near Sheffield, reported packed car parks and stores as up to 130,000 people turned up for last-minute Christmas shopping.

Tesco said it had enjoyed its busiest day of the year.

A spokeswoman said: ''It's been our busiest day of the year, as expected, so thousands of staff from head office are in store today and tomorrow to help on the tills and with filling shelves.

''There is a real buzz in the stores at this time of year, even though it is really hard work, and the weather has added an extra challenge, but all the stores are open and deliveries are getting through with plenty of supplies.''

Department store John Lewis's director of selling operations David Barford said: ''This week is always incredibly busy for us but there will also be an element of pent-up demand where shoppers weren't able to get to branches because of the weather.

''It's going to be a very busy week, weather permitting. Customers get to a point where they have to shop.''

Anne Pitcher, Selfridges' buying and merchandising director, said: ''Despite the bad weather, customers have been shopping in Selfridges in high numbers and we fully expect the last couple of days before Christmas to be busier than ever.''

The retailer said it expected more than 250,000 customers to start their festive shopping on Christmas Eve, the majority of them men.