Bargain-hunters hitting web sales

Bargains will be available online from Tuesday as some retailers launch sales via their websites.

Televisions and other electrical goods will be popular Christmas Day online purchases, retailers predict.

Comet expects bargain-hunters to hit the net after Christmas dinner at 3pm, rising to a peak at 9pm.

Other firms launching their online sales on Christmas Day include PC World, Currys, Argos and Marks & Spencer.

The Post Office Broadband predicts that 60% of people in the UK will go online at some point on Tuesday.

And one in five Christmas Day internet surfers will buy something online, the Post Office predicts.

Simon Rigby, head of direct channels at Comet, said: "It really seems that, regardless of the family get-together, people are keen to bag themselves a bargain ahead of the Boxing Day rush."

Marks & Spencer starts its sales in-store from December 27 but launched discounts online just after midnight.

DSG International, parent company for PC World, Currys and Dixons, said cut-price flatscreen televisions, laptops and digital cameras are expected to be popular.

Sales start in PC World and Currys digital stores on Boxing Day.