Boxing Day has proved to be one of the busiest days of the year for Scotland's retailers.

Many shopping centres reported bargain hunters queuing outside stores before they opened their doors on Boxing morning.

At the Buchanan Galleries centre in Glasgow bosses said some 100,000 people were likely to visit its 80 units by the end of the day.

But manager Hamish Millar said he detected a note of caution among customers despite the rush on stores.

Hamish Millar said people had been cautious

He said: "People were queuing from 5am on Buchanan Street.

"The place is very busy and obviously a lot of retailers are hoping that the sales are going to be really good because they have struggled to better last Christmas, which was very successful.

"But I think there are a lot of customers who are being more careful whereas last year people were going mad."

Many retailers said the run-up to Christmas was slow and as a result many are banking on brisk trading during the winter sales.

Other city stores said initial signs of strong sales were good.

A spokeswoman for Edinburgh's Gyle Shopping Centre said: "The centre is very busy. A lot of people were queuing outside for the sales before the doors opened."

The Jenners sale is yet to start

Shops in the north of the country were also experiencing successful seasonal sales.

At Inverness' Eastgate Shopping Centre, the main centre for the Highlands and Islands, customers began queuing before 0600 GMT.

A spokesman said: "Our Next sale started today, so by about 8.45am, there was a queue 130 metres long. It stretched the length of the centre."

Alan Day, manager of Aberdeen's Trinity Centre, also reported positive trade.

He said: "There were big crowds waiting for Debenhams to open this morning."

Other major stores such as Jenners in Edinburgh and the John Lewis chain were closed on Boxing Day, but will start their sales later this week.