Bluewater has had one of the busiest weekends of the year so far, welcoming more than 250,000 visitors.

That is an increase of around 40,000 on last year.

By lunchtime on both Saturday and Sunday every one of the mall's 13,000 car parking spaces was taken.

That is despite shoppers being given extra hours to pack in the frantic Christmas shopping.

Glow, Bluewater, the new events and exhibition venue, was expected to have had more than 40,000 visitors by the end of the weekend for its Christmas in New York event.

Bluewater's assistant general manager, Tim Hollands, said: "We have had a hugely successful weekend and guests have enjoyed all Bluewater has to offer; over 300 stores for their Christmas shopping, a choice of over 50 restaurants for lunch and dinner plus the opening of Glow further adds to Bluewater's existing "day out' experience.

"We anticipate next weekend to be even busier as guests take advantage of the last shopping weekend before Christmas!"