Harrods the luxury department store has brought forward its usual Boxing Day sale as footfall in central London continues to drop amid rising Covid cases.

As infection rates of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus soar in the UK, Harrods has announced that its Sale will start today (17 December), and run throughout the festive season and into early 2021.

Further discounts will be introduced on Boxing Day, when the Sale period usually starts.

Shoppers have shied away from visiting central London shopping destinations over the past fortnight as Brits hope to swerve a positive Covid test in the run up to Christmas Day.