Britons spent an estimated £84m online on Christmas Day, according to e-commerce industry body Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG).

Around four and a half million Brits spent an average of £19.09 each on the internet on 25 December.

Although online retailers reported an increase in the numbers of people shopping after the Queen's Speech which aired at 3pm, most purchases were made between 8pm and 10pm. However, many websites were busy up until midnight.

The growth of online Christmas Day shopping had stemmed from UK retailers, including Marks and Spencer, Dixons, Comet and Argos, promoting sales starting at midnight on the 24 December for the first time.

James Roper, CEO at the IMRG said: "The only way we Brits can enjoy the nation’s favourite leisure activity - shopping - on Christmas Day, our biggest holiday of the year, is online.

“So it is hardly surprising that millions of us now do a spot of Yuletide bargain hunting, especially as on online shopping trip can take five minutes or less, as opposed to a half-day traipse downtown.”

The IMRG used a combination of data from payment services provider Secure Trading, and digital market research company, eDigital Research. It said that this was a 269 per cent increase from 2006.

Separate research by internet service provider Plusnet, which analysed its customer’s web usage and traffic on Christmas Day, backed up the IMRG’s claims.

Both the Marks and Spencer and Argos websites featured in PlusNet’s top ten most popular internet sites accessed, with traffic peaking at around 10pm.

People looking for technical support for their new technology-based Christmas presents were also said to have helped Apple and Microsoft make PlusNet’s top 10.

Neil Armstrong, products director at Plusnet, said: “The shops may be shut but the internet is always open. Christmas Day internet usage shows that there is no day of rest for the British bargain hunter with many unable to wait until Boxing Day to bag the best deal.”