Comet reporter SHIRIN AGUIAR takes a look at what shoppers in south west London can expect at the end of year sales.

Bargain hunters are out in force since the sales hit south west London with a big bang yesterday.

Pre-Christmas spending gave retailers cause for festive cheer, but just before Christmas John Lewis announced there were signs of a slow down.

Shoppers however, are expected to hit the store in force for its bi-annual clearance which starts today.

Traditionally popular departments include towels, bedding and bedlinen, bedroom furniture, carpets and china.

You can buy patterns such as Wedgwood's traditional white at 20 per cent off and Spode's Blue Italian at 25 per cent off.

Bentalls is also enticing shoppers to its Red Hot winter sale with reductions up to 50 per cent off famous brand names in menswear, womenswear and furniture and household goods.

A spokesman for the store said: "There are lots of red hot savings throughout the store."

Top fashion names such as French Connection, Morgan, Timberland and Gerry Weber are all being offered at reduced prices.

Highlights include up to 60 per cent off French Connection, Joseph and Nicole Farhi, 50 per cent off DKNY and

30 per cent off Morgan,

Timberland and Ralph Lauren.

Men will be able to find

bargains of as much as 30 per cent off top brands such as FCUK, Paul Smith and Gerry Weber.

For your home you can save up to 50 per cent off Sleepezee beds, up to 20 per cent off furniture and up to 50 per cent off towels, linen and cookware.

At the 11th hour Marks & Spencer announced its Kingston sales would be starting today, with massive reductions of up to 50 per cent across the store including the new Per Una range by George Davis.

Allders of Sutton is offering a massive 50 per cent off thousands of items at its sale which started at 8.30am on Thursday.

Fashion brands on offer include Oasis and French Connection to Principles and Planet.

Reductions in the Debenhams sale in Wimbledon include 50 per cent off womenswear, such as Jasper Conran and Rocha John Rocha, menswear, childrenswear and home including linen, cookware and china.

Britain's favourite department store is also offering 50 per cent off lingerie such as Gossard and Triumph, 30 per cent off accessories like designer footwear and handbags and accessories and up to 20 per cent off media and entertainment.

If you have always fancied buying yourself a combined TV and video, the Lecson silver combi will cost you £199 instead of £220.

Next proved rather more cagey about giving information on their sales which were due to start yesterday.

All staff were willing to

reveal was that customers could expect as much as 50 per cent off many items in the store.

A Next manager insisted: "We don't know what's going into the sales."

Bentalls' sales opening times:

Friday, December 28 9am to 9pm.

Saturday, December 29 9am to 9pm.

Sunday, December 30 11am to 5pm.

New Year's Eve, 9am to 5pm.

New Year's Day, 11am to 5pm.

Wednesday, January 2 9.30am to 6pm.

Thursday, January 3 9.30am to 6pm.

Friday, January 4 9.30am to 6pm.

Saturday, January 5 9am to 7pm.

Marks & Spencer, Kingston, sales opening hours: 8am to 9pm.

December 28, 2001 12:00