Thousands of frantic shoppers yesterday scrambled for bargains at Yata department store in Sha Tin where goods were being sold for discounts of up to 90 percent.

Shoppers swarmed into the store when the gates opened at 9am, grabbing anything that appeared to be reasonably priced.

Bedroom furniture was being sold at 10 percent of the original price, while some brands of milk powder were advertised at 40 percent off.

Suitcases were going at half price and brand name swimsuits at HK$99 for two.

The crazy sale period ends on May 25.

Unemployed Lee Cho-yee, 28, who lives in Kwai Fong, was the first in the queue that began forming at 6.15am. He said he was planning to spend HK$800, on a half-price frying pan and a bedroom suite discounted by 90 percent.

"Though I am unemployed, I am still willing to spend on household necessities, especially those which are good bargains," he said. Mok Lai-ying, a 50-year-old promoter, joined the queue five minutes after Lee. "I have no spending limit. I will buy whatever I think is worth it," she said.

Yata managing director Daniel Chong Wai- chung said there were 1,600 people in the queue by the time the store opened at 9am.

This was 30 to 40 percent more than the store's last big sale in November.

"Although they are more cautious about spending, consumers are prepared to spend more and wisely on necessities," Chong said. "We are optimistic about the market."