Cars had to queue as they made their way out of retail parks throughout the city today
Cars were backlogged in Aintree as they headed home from the retail park(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool’s biggest retail parks in Speke, Edge Lane and Aintree have been at full capacity today as thousands of shoppers tried to secure some last minute gifts, with the big day just around the corner.
When M&S opened the doors to its Aintree Shopping Park store this morning, queues were already starting to extend way beyond the entrance, with a picture from one ECHO reader showing the line extend so far it snaked obstruct past the entrances to nearby stores, Furniture Village and Boots.
Despite the huge queues, one shopper commented on the ECHO’s Facebook page saying her trip to the retail park was relatively hassle free.
Cars pour out of New Mersey Retail Park in Speke(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
She said: “Just got back in from M&S Aintree. Had a great time. Staff organised it very well and 99% of the people were all in good Christmas spirit.”
However, despite that positive shopping experience in Aintree, people attempting to leave retail parks car parks throughout the city faced the unenviable reality of sitting in traffic as hundreds tried to start the journey back home.
One ECHO reader said heavy traffic had started to build as he made his way into Edge Lane’s retail park, with spaces few and far between for Christmas shoppers.
Last minute shoppers in Edge Lane’s retail park(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He said: “The car park is absolutely rammed with Christmas shoppers here, it took me a good 10 mins to get in.”
Meanwhile, he said patience was running low for many drivers after they had completed their shopping and began the painstaking task of trying to leave the shopping park and head home.
He continued: “And now there is a queue to get out onto Edge Lane. I’m hearing car horns every now and again with angry motorists queuing to get out.”
Roads leading away form Edge Lane’s retail park were significantly backlogged(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
However, there were some stewards on hand to try and alleviate the backlog of cars as they attempted to guide shoppers in the right direction.
He said: “They have some staff in high vis jackets directing cars in and out.”
Today marks the end of what has been a busy couple days in Liverpool as thousands have frantically been trying to complete some last minute Christmas shopping, while others were pictured throughout the city centre earlier in the week getting in the festive spirit on Mad Friday.