European online sales this Christmas are set to beat all records, according to US research company Forrester.

It predicts online retail sales will total £4.8 billion, up 86 per cent on last year, and claims the UK will by top the tree by spending a £2.6 billion this month and next.

Although Germany has 18 million e-shoppers against 15 million in the UK, it spends 30 per cent less online.

The study suggests many Germans research their purchases online before buying them at a shop.

www.forrester.com