UK may face empty Christmas stockings

Online shoppers are being warned to make sure their online Christmas shopping arrives in time.

Only two of the UK's top ten shopping websites have posted a final order date for Christmas, software company Conchango warned.

According to Conchango, last year Royal Mail delivered only 66.1 per cent of first class letters on the following day between 1 and 21 December, against a target of 92.5 per cent.

Despite predictions that this year will break all records for gifts ordered over the internet, online shops will not be able to fulfil orders for popular gifts such as the Microsoft Xbox 360, warned Conchango.

Paul Dawson, head of user experience at Conchango, said: "Online retailers have made some incredible headway in encouraging consumers to do their Christmas shopping online over the past few years. The danger is that all this good work could be wasted if the industry builds a reputation for failing to deliver on its promises."