Net shopping can't beat the high street

The Internet was supposed to take the hassle out of shopping, but a survey published today found just one in 10 said it helped when it came to buying Christmas presents.

Of those asked, 30% shunned the net altogether saying they preferred the high street despite the prospect of crowds.The results are contained in a survey of 1,000 adults which was conducted on behalf of logistics software company EXE Technologies.

Steven Buckley, marketing director at EXE, said: "This is a pretty pathetic performance. Even though people in Britain can't stand the high street at Christmas, it's apparently still a more attractive prospect than taking a chance on the Internet."