Women are more likely to buy things using the internet than men, although men spend more when they shop online, according to a survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

About 22 per cent of women have bought something on the web, compared to 19 per cent of men but, while women spend an average of just £70 a month, men splash out £111.

Eighty-eight per cent of those questioned spent an average of less than £100 a month on internet purchases, while 13 per cent spent more than £100 and three per cent more than £500.

CDs and videos were the most popular buys online with 38 per cent of people buying them, followed by books (30 per cent) and travel (22 per cent).

The research found 44 per cent of people claimed to have made an odd or unusual purchase over the internet, ranging from a second-hand set of false teeth to 112 onion bhajis.

www.royalbankscot.co.uk