It's predicted that the UK market will soon match that of the US, where 'gift cards' are worth £19 billion annually.

Gift cards, where retailers load plastic cards with money to spend in their shops - like gift vouchers - are expected to be a major part of the trend. They can either be spend-anywhere 'universal' cards, or ones branded to specific retailers.

But Graham Mott, from cash machine network LINK, told Reuters:

"The pre-paid market is very big in some other countries and people do see it taking off here.

"I think it will grow, but don't think it will replace cash in the short or medium-term."

As we reported earlier this month, shoppers are increasingly reaching for their plastic rather than their pounds.