Those aged 65 and over are more likely than ever to enjoy safe shopping online on a regular basis, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

ONS analysis revealed that 54 per cent of people who fall into this age group report that they often take advantage of e-commerce sites to place orders, although the frequency with which they do so is lower than that of their younger counterparts.

Millennials who are aged between 25 and 34 are arguably the biggest fans of online shopping, with many making at least 11 purchases from the web every quarter. By comparison, the over 65s make a maximum of five purchases during the same period.

The report looked more broadly at the state of online shopping habits in the UK, showing that two-fifths of consumers splashed out an average amount sitting somewhere between £100 at the low end and £499 at the upper limit over the given three-month period which was surveyed.

15 per cent of people who occupy the upper limits in terms of online expenditure increased their average outlay to £1000, while fewer than one in ten people spent under £50, according to the Guardian.

Fashion items and sporting products took the top spot in terms of overall popularity for online purchasing. Household items came in just behind these, while fourth place in the rankings was occupied by event tickets, covering everything from live music to theatre and comedy.

93 per cent of homes nationwide are able to access the web at the moment, which is a significant step up from the 70 per cent of domestic premises that had connections back in 2009. As connectivity improves, more people of all ages will no doubt shop online and spend more as well.