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Festive shoppers should refrain from purchasing all their Christmas shopping online this year and instead look to the high street, says the Forum of Private Business.

The lobbying group believes that avoiding shopping solely online will lessen the chance of repeat scenes from last year when bad weather crippled postal services and left many items undelivered before Christmas.

The warning comes after it emerged this week that the UK has seen a huge surge in internet shopping – online sales are predicted to be as much as 17 per cent up on last year – and media reports suggesting stretched postal services would be unable to cope with more extreme weather.

FPB senior policy adviser Phil McCabe says, ‘The inability of UK infrastructure to cope during extreme weather, coupled with a stretched postal service, meant huge problems for many people who'd opted to purchases goods last Christmas via the web. The pain was particular acute for those who did their last minute grocery shopping.

‘With this year's surge in internet shopping and hundreds of thousands more parcels in the system than anticipated, the delivery network will be even less able to cope in the event of another bout of bad weather.’

McCabe adds that local high street shops offer ‘unrivalled levels of service, choice and quality’.

‘High street shops have slashed prices early this year to entice the crowds, and canny shoppers have been able to pick up some amazing deals. Cash-strapped British consumers are increasingly savvy when it comes to seeking out a bargain, and high street shops are introducing new promotions daily,’ he continues.

Another benefit cited is the advantage of getting to grips with products up close before buying them rather than simply viewing items on a computer screen.

Adds McCabe, ‘Consumers choosing this option would also be doing their bit to boost the fortunes of their local high street, which we know is under threat from the ever-aggressive policies of the supermarkets, who rely on their size and scale to undermine smaller retailers.’

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