UK shoppers left their Valentines gift buying until the last minute, according to research of shopper traffic from FootFall.

The numbers of shoppers on Sunday February 13 was up 10.2 per cent on the previous Sunday.

Sheelah Turner, market analyst at FootFall, said: "With Valentine's Day on a Monday this year, shoppers had a full weekend to buy presents for loved ones.

"Although Saturday was a typically busy day, shopper numbers were only 2 per cent up on the previous Saturday, but Sunday - apparently the shopping day of choice - saw a staggering week-on-week increase in the number of shoppers of more than 10 per cent.

"The trend of last minute shopping appears to not only be a growing characteristic of Christmas, but for other occasions too. The thoughts and deliberations around gift buying - whether Christmas or Valentines - seem to keep consumers pondering until the last possible minute.

"Either that or the majority of the Valentines' shopping centred on flowers and chocolates and considerate buyers wanted them to be as fresh as possible.

"If the last minute trend continues shoppers may find themselves fighting over the Easter eggs in a final rush just before the Easter break, next month."