Brighton's shops are bracing themselves for a last-minute Christmas shopping rush after a relatively quiet weekend.

Brighton city centre manager Tony Mernagh said the weekend's trade was "a bit of a mixed bag".

He said: "Some of the big stores did very well, while the independents say they did rather poorly. I think Saturday and Sunday will be horrendously busy."

Many shops are staying open later to ease the crush.

Borders bookshop is open until 10pm each night and Marks & Spencer and many shops in Churchill Square are open until 9pm.

Mr Mernagh said although late-night shopping was still in demand, Sunday shopping was becoming more important.

He said: "The problem is, people think they should go early while the shops are quiet - but they are not quiet because everyone is coming early."

A spokesman for Borders, which had queues winding around the store on Saturday, said: "It was really, really busy. But it is what we expect in the run up to Christmas and I imagine next weekend will be pretty much the same."

He said there was huge interest in Lord Of The Rings books and all the Harry Potter titles.

Other stores have reported a return to the old favourites on children's wish lists.

Sales of Barbie, Action Man, Playmobil and Scalextric are outstripping sales of new technology at Gamleys in the Arndale Centre in Eastbourne.

Manager Graham Edwards said: "The traditional toys are the best sellers this year and spending is definitely up."