SHOPPERS grabbed more than half a million bargains in the first hour of Marks and Spencer's Christmas Penny Bazaar, the retailer said today.

M and S said more than one million customers had visited the stores by noon to take advantage of the 1p products, with some shoppers having queued since 6am to secure the Christmas stocking gifts.

The shopping giant sold about 138 one penny items a second in the first few hours of today's sale, which was running across 350 stores with the Gemini branch being one of the busiest across the country seeing hundreds of people waiting outside.

The retailer launched its Penny Bazaar earlier this year to mark its 125th anniversary celebrations – going back to its roots, as the chain started life as a Penny Bazaar in 1884.

The last bargain bonanza in May ran for three days and saw many stores running out of stock each day due to demand.

The group charged a penny for each product, as a suggested minimum donation, with all money going towards local charities nominated by each M and S store.

Today's morning rush saw more than double the average number of shoppers for a Friday morning, while it also marked an increased turn-out on the last Penny Bazaar, which saw about 900,000 shoppers rush to buy goods by 12pm.

Sir Stuart Rose, M and S chairman, said: "We've had a great start to our Christmas Penny Bazaar.

"Thanks to M and S, millions of people will be getting a little something extra in their Christmas stockings this year – and all the profits are going to local charities."