Other shoppers may just have been searching for that elusive item they had unexpectedly run out of or had forgotten to get before December 25.
Mail audio visual editor Frank Reid toured town to see how busy Middleton Grange Shopping Centre and supermarkets were.
5. Bargain hunter
Natasha Harrison, who lives in the Mill House area of town, bagged herself a bargain nice and early Photo: Frank Reid
6. Quiet start
Anchor Retail Park was quiet early on Boxing Day morning Photo: Frank Reid
7. Waiting patiently
Lynne Brown, from Greatham, waits patiently for Middleton Grange's shops to open. Photo: Frank Reid
8. All quiet
The scene outside Middleton Grange's B&M store on Boxing Day morning. Photo: Frank Reid