The freezing weather could be helping online retailers get an unexpected boost, as snow keeps shoppers away from the high street.

Research group Synovate's found the number of people visiting non-food retailers last Saturday was down 14 per cent compared to the same day last year.

And since the start of the snow the total number of customers hitting the shops is down by more than a fifth.

However, online retail isn't benefitting as much as might be expected according to internet retail group IMRG, as it seems people are concerned they might not receive their deliveries in time or at all because of the snow and ice.