Darlington has hit the jackpot for Christmas spending this year, thanks to rail chaos on the East Coast line.

Major town centre stores recorded Christmas sales increases of up to 40pc against last year while other branches in Newcastle, York and Leeds struggled to make 3pc rises.

Last week almost 250,000 people pounded through the Cornmill centre, making it the second biggest week for sales since the centre opened in 1992.

The trend looked likely to continue as shoppers packed the town again on Wednesday eager for sales bargains.

The Christmas spirit also spilled over into the town's pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Most were too busy to even talk on Wednesday lunchtime as the army of shoppers took a break from the queues at the sales.

According to Mr Albion Small, Cornmill centre manager and president of Darlington chamber of trade, the Christmas train cancellations and disrupted services have been a blessing.

He told the D&S Times: "Shoppers were still out in force right up until 3.30 on Christmas Eve.

"Darlington seems to be a blip compared to every other regional centre. Shops are recording massive increases - some up to 40pc - while similar branches have struggled to make 3pc.

"The only thing I can put it down to is that shoppers have been forced to stay and spend in Darlington because of rail cancellations and delays.

"People who usually shopped in Newcastle, York, Leeds or even London have stayed at home and spent their money in the town centre stores instead.

"It has been a great boost for Darlington and the signs are looking good for record January sales. Long may it continue."

Shoppers hoping to snatch up a sale bargain were out in force on Wednesday and yesterday.

Large queues formed outside both Next outlets in Northgate from 5am on Wednesday, as shoppers waited for early opening at 6am.

For the first time ever, queues were reported waiting for Marks & Spencer to open at 9am.

Mrs Yvonne Morrist, manager of the Northgate branch, agreed that rail stoppages had persuaded people to spend locally.

She said: "This year has been a tremendous bumper Christmas for Marks & Spencer. Every day in the week up until Christmas we smashed through all estimated sales. I am sure the rail disruptions have got people into the pattern of spending locally."

Mr David Barker, manager of C&A, reported a 50pc rise in sales this Christmas and said the signs were good for brisk trading in their final four weeks.

Business was so brisk in the run-up to Christmas that the King's Head hotel in Priestgate closed after Christmas Day lunch until yesterday to allow hard-working staff a well-earned breather.

A spokesman for the hotel said trade had been better than last year, but as there were not many bookings for rooms between Christmas and new year, the hotel usually took advantage of the chance to let staff catch up on leave.

He added: "We've got a wedding party tomorrow and New Year's Eve is going to be very busy, so we are preparing ourselves for the second wave."

80 charged after shoplifting

operation

A MAJOR police crackdown on festive shoplifting in Darlington has seen 80 people charged with theft.

But Christmas revellers were on their best behaviour over the holiday period.

The shoplifting operation, which ran from November 13 to Christmas Eve, involved a dedicated team of officers working with information from Crimenet, the North-East retail crime partnership and CCTV cameras.

Applications for remand were made and a number of exclusion orders granted prohibiting known and travelling criminals from entering Darlington town centre again.

A total £3,791-worth of property was recovered.

Det Sgt Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said: "Christmas Eve drinkers behaved themselves on the whole and the few violent incidents were dealt with immediately by door staff and police.

"We are all delighted with the outcome of the shoplifting crackdown especially as 65pc of those arrested were out-of-town criminals."

Drink-drive figures for December are due to be released next week and a spokesman for Durham police said they were hopeful of a good result across the county.