Online retail has been aided by the development of broadband services in the UK, a representative of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has suggested.

The organisation's head of media campaigns, Richard Dodd, says that ecommerce in Britain can expect to grow over the coming years as people who have recently signed up for broadband services become more accustomed to buying goods over the internet.

"Increasingly, people are still adopting online retailing," he commented.

Continuing: "More people are getting broadband and more people are getting confident with buying online and part of that of course is convenience in making an easy price comparison."

A third of shoppers surveyed as part of the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index bought their Christmas presents online in December, 59.9 per cent more than in 2007.