It was jingle tills in Norwich as the sales got into full swing across the city centre.

After a busy start to the sales on Boxing Day with many stores open for trading, more of the city's shops, including Jarrold and John Lewis, opened for their first day of sale yesterday.

Peter Mitchell, managing director for Jarrold, pictured below, said: 'There is a real appetite for some of the deals and the reductions. I think it could be one of the strongest first day of sales we have had for several years.'

Meanwhile John Lewis also reported a good start to its in-store clearance in Norwich yesterday.

Richard Marks, managing director of John Lewis Norwich, said: 'Excited customers were waiting outside at 8am yesterday morning and we were steadily busy all day. The most popular departments were audio and TV, linens, women's wear and large electrical.'

Men's clothing store Jonathan Trumbull, in St Stephen's Street, and Hatters, in White Lion Street held their first day of sale yesterday, and store director David Kingsley said the stores had been as busy as they were on the first day last year.

He said: 'It was very good, It was on a par with last year, possibly better.'

David Finlay, who runs Lower Goat Lane clothes store Elements, which opened on Boxing Day, also said that they were having a good start to their sale in store.

He said: 'Boxing Day went really well in the shop – it was way up on last year. Yesterday went well too. It was very busy.'

He said by early afternoon yesterday they had almost equalled the figures for the whole of December 27 last year.

Roger Pemberton, chairman of Norwich Lanes Traders Association, said there was good footfall in Norwich Lanes yesterday, although he had seen it slightly busier.

Both the city's shopping malls had opened on Boxing Day and yesterday enjoyed a busy second day of the sales.

Victoria Merrison. marketing manager at Castle Mall, said: 'Boxing Day footfall was up on last year by about 2,500 people which was great.

'Yesterday was really, really busy. Year on year we are up 4pc.

'It is really positive and we are looking forward to 2013. The new management has lots of new plans for 2013.'

Davina Tanner, general manager of Chapelfield Shopping Centre, said: 'Chapelfield looked extremely busy yesterday. Before Christmas our gift card sales were exceptionally high so we anticipated that people would be keen to grab a bargain in one of the many post-Christmas sale events.'

She added: 'The centre has a very buzzy atmosphere and we expect the rest of this week, up until New Year's Eve, to be busy.'

Do you have a story about Norwich's retail scene? Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@ archant.co.uk