Black Friday 2016: Streets deserted as shoppers go online and avoid the high streets - as it happened

Follow the latest updates here

Black Friday explained: A brief history of the famous shopping day

Welcome to the Independent’s live blog on Black Friday as the bonanza sales day kicks off..

Follow the latest updates about deals and events here:

• 'Black Friday' shoplifter stabs off-duty police officer
• Black Friday 2016: High street stores deserted as shoppers crowd online ...
• Meanwhile riots broke out over toilet rolls in a South African supermarket
• The deals and stores to watch out for
• Black Friday 2016: Five ways retailers are tricking you to buying stuff you probably don’t need
• The 7 ways to save the most amount of money on Black Friday
• Half of all Black Friday deals aren't actually deals at all, says watchdog
• How crowded are the stores? Google launches new live feature to help you choose wisely
• Patagonia to give 100% of clothing sales to climate charities
• Black Friday 2016: The best TV deals and where to get them
• Best Xbox One and PS4 deals on games and consoles
• Where to find the best fashion discounts

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Black Friday is fast becoming the best day to hunt for a bargain whether you’re in the US or the UK. In other words, it’s the best day of the year to go shopping, just as long as you’re wearing lots of protective clothing and don’t mind fighting in the aisles.

This year, many retailers including Amazon, Tesco's, and Argos already have some of their best Black Friday deals available early.

Amazon was the first horse out of the box launching Black Friday deals daily from November 14.

Sales this year are likely to top £2bn, say analysts, as shoppers hunt for bargains ahead of an expected rise in prices in 2017 due to a fall in the value of the poud following the UK vote to leave the EU.

"Obviously, with the Brexit currency movements, prices are going to go up in the first quarter of next year. The vast majority of all Black Friday offers were negotiated and in place before the Brexit vote." AO World chief executive told the BBC.

By Thursday, the discount retailing site TopCashback reported a 30 per cent increase in spending over last year.

While more than £2bn is expected to be spent on Friday alone, the total for the next four days is forecast to rise to more than £4bn once the weekend and Cyber-Monday are included.

Click here for Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

[25 November 2016 16:32 · Stuart Henderson]

As Black Friday sales continue across the UK, we’re going to close up for the day.

Black Friday seemed to be a much more calmer event event this year with smaller or no queues.

However, this doesn't mean customers were not shopping with retailers reporting big surge in online sales.

While more than £2bn is expected to be spent on Friday alone, the total for the next four days is forecast to rise to more than £4bn once the weekend and Cyber-Monday - an online-only event - are included.

Here's a recap of the day and thank you for following