British consumers are expected to go on a £1.97 billion spending spree today and set a new record for the biggest shopping day of the year.

Retailers are braced for an online and in-store onslaught as they offer up Black Friday deals in the battle for Christmas shoppers, who are facing the threat of steep price hikes in the New Year in the wake of the pound's post referendum slump.

Almost all of the high street's biggest names are embracing the US import this year, with some such as Tesco and John Lewis offering extended opening hours.

All will be hoping that their websites stand up to the volume of traffic after big names such as Argos, Tesco, John Lewis and Boots crashed at peak times last year.

However not everyone is joining in, with Ikea and Next traditionally not participating, and Walmart-owned Asda, which takes the credit for introducing Black Friday to the UK in 2013, pulling out for a second year running, with the explanation that its customers want year-round deals rather than a single day of sales.

It has instead marked the event with a series of "Mannequin Challenge" videos set in store, the first of which spoofs the footage from its Wembley store in 2014, where customers scrapped over bargain TVs.

But experts have pointed to the evolving nature of the event, which has progressed from brawls over cut-price televisions to last year's "muted" high street turnout, with many predicting increased spending online this year.

Are you taking part in Black Friday? Send in your pictures and bargains by emailing website@dailyecho.co.uk.