Tills are ringing: Millions of shoppers hitting streets for last-minute Christmas Eve gift buying today set to spend almost £1billion

Half of British adults have left some of their festive shopping until today, a survey said. Sainsbury's Bank, for whom the poll was done, has estimated 11 per cent of the week's shopping will take place in the final hours of trading - down from 22 per cent last year. But 23.6million people are expected to shop today compared with 17.5million last year, spending up to £832million. Meanwhile the traditional Boxing Day sales were starting two days early today, with the clamour for the best deals beginning as early as 6am. Pictured: Shoppers on Oxford Street in central London (left), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (top right) and Southampton (bottom right) today.