VIDEO: Police Manage Black Friday Crowds

Police had to be called to manage crowds in supermarkets as hundreds of customers flocked to midnight sales on Black Friday.

Published 28th Nov 2014

Police had to be called to manage crowds in supermarkets as hundreds of customers flocked to midnight sales on Black Friday.

Tesco at Silverburn in Glasgow was closed for a period as people clashed over discounted goods.

Sarah Coubrough wrote on Twitter: Silverburn shut cos shoppers going mental with the sales. Think I'll stick to the online shopping today.''

Emma Somers posted: Police called to the Tesco at Silverburn cause folk are fighting over the bargains for Black Friday.''

At another Tesco store in Dundee, police were called to similar scenes and a decision was taken by staff to shut the shop.

A statement from Police Scotland's Tayside division said: For information the Tesco Extra, Kingsway West, Dundee has been closed at this time due to excessive numbers attending to purchase sale items.

This decision was made by Tesco staff to ensure the safety of all their customers.''

Black Friday was originally a discounting day in the United States immediately after Thanksgiving but has now become a key date in British retail in the run up to Christmas.

A number of shops across the UK opened at midnight, boasting massive discounts on a range of goods.

As well as the scenes in Scotland, police were called to supermarkets in London, Manchester and Cardiff. Greater Manchester Police said at least two people have been arrested at Black Friday sales events already this morning.

The force said on its Twitter feed: ''Keep calm people!''