Analyst Mintel says there has been a "phenomenal" 51% growth in the e-commerce market since 2004, with the UK now ahead of Germany in terms of spending online each year.

Across Europe as a whole, e-commerce only accounts for 2% of retail spending, though that's forecast to increase to 5% by 2010.

Senior retail analyst Neil Mason told Ananova:

"Mintel is confident that online sales of goods will grow strongly over the next few years as this channel matures."