The festive period can prove a stressful one for those tasked with buying a number of gifts, however, many Britons seem to be making the situation even more challenging by leaving their shopping to the last minute.

That is according to the AXA Wealth Self study, which indicated that 32 per cent of those surveyed leave their shopping until the final seven days before December 25th, while 12 per cent leave themselves with just a few days to spare.

Purchasing a Christmas hamper online could be one way in which people can avoid the sometimes challenging task of navigating the shops, a decision that could prove a wise one for the 64 per cent of people surveyed who admitted to being very nervous/anxious or quite uneasy at the thought of risk taking.

Many Britons may already be comfortable with shopping online as Ofcom's International Communications Market report recently found that 79 per cent of people used the web to buy services or goods last year.