Worldwide shipping firms could be harmed, after a new report claims that consumers may revert to cash if providers impose a fee on debit cards.

This is according to research from the Mercator Advisory Group, and the National Payment Card Association in the US.

These bodies suggest that fees as low as $10 a month would see people eschew traditional debit card issuers.

The study found that while people would go back to using cash, they may be open to electronic payments - if merchants were to issue their own free debit cards.

A move away from electronic payment could hurt shipping firms, with online shopping relying so heavily on credit and debit cards.

New research from eCommera suggests, however, that one in four UK shoppers buy online at least once a week.