Amazon.co.uk is the most widely used retailer on the internet, by people in Britain, it has been announced.

The books, games, and movies specialist has appeared at the number one spot in the Hot Shops List - compiled by IMRG and Experian Hitwise.

The American site, Amazon.com, also joins its UK counterpart in the top five.

The last quarter saw the same top five retailers online, announced, with the US site the only entry to make a move upwards.

The others making up the top retailers were Play.com, Argos, and the Apple Store.

The site Very.co.uk, a new venture from Littlewoods', was revealed to be the only new entry within the top 50.

Director of research at Experian Hitwise, Robin Goad, explained the big retailers had managed to extend their sales, beyond the immediate post-Christmas period.