Retailers at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre are gearing up for Black Friday.

Several stores have taken on temporary staff to cope with the festive rush of shoppers.

Among them is Debenhams where 17 temporary staff have been recruited.

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley said: “As the main shopping centre at the heart of the community, our shoppers are used to seeing our stores keep up with the retail trends and the emerging popularity of Black Friday is no exception.

“It seems to be more prevalent than ever this year and our visitors will be treated to a whole host of extra special discounts and offers which I am sure will be appreciated as festive shopping starts in earnest.

“With a range of high street favourite and independent shops, I feel sure we will have lots of our loyal shoppers out this weekend to make the most of the extra discounts and sales on offer.”

Ann Littler, manager of clothes store Wallis who recently completed 40 years working in retail, said: “Black Friday is something quite new that’s come over from the United States.

“We’re going really big on it – all guns blazing. There’s a discount of everything in the shop, with up to 30 per cent on sale stock, up to 30 percent on jewellery, and up to 10 per cent on full price stock.

“Wallis have also got a nationwide advert coming on the TV. We’re hoping for a surge in sales.”

Andy Burson, proprietor of men’s clothes store Ragazzi, added: “We’re seeing growth online so we’re offering free postage on our online sales. We’re hoping to have an increase in sales on last year.”

Meanwhile, it’s expected a number of the seasonal workers at Debenhams could be kept on permanently in the New Year.

Among the new temps is mum-of-two Katherine Owen, 25, from Wrexham, who has just got back into the workplace after seven years looking after her children full-time.

She said: “I love being back in work. The staff here are lovely and so are the customers.

“Being a fulltime mum is the best feeling because I love being with the kids. I love them to bits.

“I wanted to get back to work now that the children are all in school.

“I’ve seen a lot of possible stocking fillers here for them already, and because I’m working it means I’ll have some extra cash.”

Selling Support Manager at Debenhams at Eagles Meadow, Andrew Smethurst, said: “We’re expecting an exceptionally busy Christmas period, and the Christmas temps will be first in the queue for any fulltime jobs because we will have had the chance to see what they can do.”

Store assistant Angharad Matthias, 18, from Bwlchgwyn, is very excited about getting her first ever job.

The ex-Ysgol Morgan Llwyd school pupil, said: “I’ve never had a job before and this is a really good first one to have. I’m going to college next year and I want to do a fashion course at Coleg Cambria.

“That’s why I was really excited about getting the job because I’ll get to learn about fashion.

“They do fashion shows here for charity and I’d love to be involved in them. I’ve always been interested in fashion.

“The best thing about working her is that it’s fun, and because of that the days goes by very quickly. You get to meet lots of different people here.”