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THOUSANDS of shoppers hit stores across Wales today with huge queues outside Primark - but England's shops remained shut.

The scenes in Cardiff were a far cry from high streets across England where non-essential stores have been forced to close during lockdown.

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Dozens of masked shoppers queued outside Primark in Cardiff today as they made the most of the Black Friday sales
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Dozens of masked shoppers queued outside Primark in Cardiff today as they made the most of the Black Friday salesCredit: Matthew Horwood
By comparison, London's Oxford Street remained dead as England's lockdown continues
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By comparison, London's Oxford Street remained dead as England's lockdown continuesCredit: Darren Fletcher - Commissioned by The Sun
In Cardiff, South Wales Police warned people from England not to jump the border to nab a bargain
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In Cardiff, South Wales Police warned people from England not to jump the border to nab a bargainCredit: Huw Evans Picture Agency

London's Oxford Street - usually bustling with Christmas shoppers at this time of year - was like a ghost town.

Shoppers in England will only be able to place their Black Friday purchases online - as high streets remain empty.

Stores in Wales, however, are open and packed with bargain hunters.

Crowds filled Cardiff's Queen Street as Black Friday border cops were tasked to catch people from England nipping into Wales to snap up a good bargain.

The city's bargain hunters braced the chill, to the envy of their locked-down neighbours
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The city's bargain hunters braced the chill, to the envy of their locked-down neighboursCredit: Matthew Horwood
Just a few people were seen walking through Oxford Street in London
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Just a few people were seen walking through Oxford Street in LondonCredit: Darren Fletcher - Commissioned by The Sun
As police made their way through crowds of shoppers in Cardiff
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As police made their way through crowds of shoppers in CardiffCredit: Huw Evans Picture Agency

South Wales Police said it would use its powers to make sure visitors to Cardiff city centre were not in breach of any coronavirus rules.

In Wales people are not allowed to travel to areas with lower infection rates - and anyone living in England must have a "reasonable" excuse to travel across the border.

Black Friday sales however, don't make the cut.

Police will have the power to carry out random checks on vehicles from 9am this morning until 5pm on Sunday.

Anyone found breaking the rules will be fined and be asked to leave the city.

Wales ended its national 'firebreak lockdown' on November 9, with shops, restaurants, pubs and gyms allowed to open their doors once more.

Under the country's new rules, groups of up to four can meet in cafes, pubs and restaurants – and households can meet inside homes with one member of their support “bubble”.

Supermarkets can also finally sell non-essential items - after a ban sparked widespread confusion among furious shoppers.

But other restrictions will continue, such as a 10pm curfew on the sale of alcohol and an extension of 'work-from-home' advice.

Meanwhile, people in England are still bargain hunting online, with Aldi running out of Nintendo Switches and Apple airpods within minutes.

Shops in London remained shuttered
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Shops in London remained shutteredCredit: Darren Fletcher - Commissioned by The Sun
Its usually heaving high streets remained bare
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Its usually heaving high streets remained bare Credit: Darren Fletcher - Commissioned by The Sun
Long line of shoppers queued outside stores on Cardiff's Queen Street
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Long line of shoppers queued outside stores on Cardiff's Queen StreetCredit: Huw Evans Picture Agency
In London, no-one was queuing outside any shops as stores remain shut
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In London, no-one was queuing outside any shops as stores remain shutCredit: Darren Fletcher - Commissioned by The Sun
In Wales, however, the streets were rammed with bargain hunters
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In Wales, however, the streets were rammed with bargain huntersCredit: Huw Evans Picture Agency
Shoppers wore masks as they waited their turn
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Shoppers wore masks as they waited their turn Credit: Matthew Horwood
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