LONDON, Dec 27, 2008 (AFP) - Hundreds of bargain-hunters braved the cold on Saturday morning as luxury London retailer Harrods opened its post-Christmas sale amid protests from anti-fur campaigners.

Photo : Carl de Souza/AFP

Mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins opened the department store in Knightsbridge, west London, at 9:00 am (0900 GMT), after arriving by horse-drawn carriage as protesters chanted "Shame on Katherine".

Harrods, owned by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, typically invites an entertainment personality to open its late December sales -- in the past, Kim Cattrall, Eva Longoria, Victoria Beckham and Christina Aguilera have done so.

The boos and chants from those taking part in the protest, organised by the Coalition to Abolish Fur Trade, were soon drowned out by clapping and cheering from would-be shoppers who queued overnight, with a store spokesman saying some came from as far afield as Slovenia.

"We are gathered here today because of our disgust at Ms Jenkins who professes to be against animal cruelty and the fur trade," said campaigner John Wilson.

"We understand that Harrods is now the only major store in the UK to sell imported fur."