THE AMBULANCE service has urged shoppers not to get into a 'fight over a cut price television' when the high street is swamped by bargain hunters this Friday.

November 27 marks ‘Black Friday’ – when British retailers typically introduce large savings on various products to cash in on the run-up to Christmas.

Originally an American tradition marking the first day after Thanksgiving, the phenomenon has gained the reputation of turning mild-mannered UK shoppers into bargain-hunting maniacs.

Director of Operations at the North West Ambulance Service, Derek Cartwright, said: “We all remember the awful and chaotic footage from last year as people were hurt by being pushed over and trampled on as they hurried to get their hands on discounted electronics and goods.

“Hopefully this year people will be more mindful when attending the sales and understand the consequences of their actions as a fight over a cut price television is not worth a risk to your health, resulting in a call to 999.

“As large crowds gather at these events we would expect retailers to put in place the necessary security provisions to keep everyone safe so that our ambulance crews aren’t called out to injuries which are easily prevented.

“By doing this we will then be free to attend to those with a life-threatening or serious condition and are in most need of our help.”

Numerous violent incidents were reported across Greater Manchester last year, including brawls at Tesco stores in Old Trafford, Wigan, Walkden, Salford, Middleton and Hattersley.

NWAS ambulance crews were called out to incidents as people had been assaulted and received various injuries whilst attending the sales in 2014.

One incident included a lady who was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury when a television fell on top of her in a supermarket.

What is Black Friday?

Originally an American tradition, Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Thursday, creating a four-day weekend that many Americans choose to begin their Christmas shopping.

The name is thought to refer to retailers’ ability to claw back losses throughout the year and push their balance books out the red and into the ‘black’.

How much will be spent?

Britons are expected to spend £3.49 billion over four days starting from "Black Friday", with online sales alone predicted to be up 16 per cent on last year.

Some 14.7 million shoppers will take part in the sales bonanza from this Friday, culminating with so called ‘Cyber Monday’, when most workers will be in possession of their last pay check of the year, according to figures from the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) and VoucherCodes.co.uk.

Those in the UK are expected to spend 21 per cent, or £450 million, more over the four days than France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium combined.

What aboout Bolton's supermarkets?

Tesco are participating in Black Friday. All Tesco Extra stores in Greater Manchester, including the outlet at Middlebrook, will close at midnight on Thursday, November 26 and open at 5am on Black Friday.

Bolton Sainsbury’s stores will be taking part in Black Friday, but stores will maintain their normal opening hours.

Despite being one of the retailers that helped popularise the event, Asda will not be participating in Black Friday this year. Their stores will be open as normal.

Morrisons are participating in Black Friday. Their stores will open at normal times and the supermarket’s petrol stations will also offer £1 per litre on petrol if you spend £40 in store.

Aldi aren’t participating in Black Friday. Their store opening times will remain the same as usual.

The scenes at Walkden Tesco store last year:-