Online sales were helped to recover in February following a poor performance in the month previous, according to the most recent figures from IMRG Capgemini.

The company's e-Retail Sales Index shows that gifts for Valentine’s Day helped customers spend four point one billion pounds over February.

This is an increase of 13 per cent when set against last year's total spend of three point six billion.

Internet sales fell 4 per cent from January, although this can be attributed to the usual seasonal drop, following festive and New Year special offers.

IMRG say that although the gifts industry saw sales decline by almost a third, more intimate gifts, such as underwear and beauty items saw good annual growth of thirty and twenty five per cent.