HIGH street stores face a difficult festive season as a rising number of shoppers turn to the Internet for presents.

Nearly two out of every five British adults will do some Christmas shopping online, with an increase in the number of households with broadband making browsing on the Internet easier.

Buying gifts over the Internet is the preferred option for 15 per cent of shoppers, up from ten per cent last year, and users tend to be younger and relatively affluent, according to Mintel's UK Retail Briefing report.

Online auction sites, such as eBay, have benefited from the trend.

Richard Perks, Mintel director of retail research, said an upturn in consumer confidence would boost retail sales this Christmas.

But he warned: "This Christmas is set to be a tough one for high street retailers - Tesco, on the one hand, and Internet retailers on the other, will take the majority of the growth and the high street is going to be squeezed in between."

Mintel contacted 1,000 people aged 15 and over during October.