Online sales were forecast to increase by 25% over the Christmas period compared to 2007. The peak shopping period was expected to be between 1pm and 2pm on Monday 8th December 2008 (so called ‘Mega Monday’) when £28 million was forecast to be spent online during this single hour.

Research, by polling organisation GfK NOP, said one in 10 online shoppers were planning to have their online Christmas shopping delivered to their workplace.

This contrasts sharply with the High Street where many retailers were bracing themselves for one of the worst festive periods on record.