Britain's shoppers are more likely to buy gifts for their pets than they are for their grandparents this Christmas.

A report by SAS and Verdict found that 15.8% of 10,000 shoppers surveyed said they were buying presents for their pets this year, compared to 14.3% buying for grandparents.

Despite the tough economic climate, consumers are still predicted to spend £86 billion during the festive season, an increase of 1% from last year.

Tech-savvy shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices and tablets to research and purchase gifts, and retailers offering in-store collection services will triumph over extreme weather conditions.