Hubby’s late panic-buying? It’s just got even harder!

THE sudden closure of many shops is expected to hit men in relationships particularly hard.

Surveys suggest they tend to leave buying gifts for their wife or girlfriend until the last minute.

On Christmas Eve, department stores are routinely filled with men gripped by panic as they try to find a decent present – and they are willing to spend large sums to get one.

But this year, finding something suitable in Tesco, B&Q or the local petrol station shop may prove something of a stretch in Tier Four.

However, the partners of these men may not be the only ones to miss out. Millions of families face gaps under the tree on Christmas morning as toy shops have also had to shut.

A wave of new online orders is expected from parents and relatives desperate to get presents before Friday. But there are fears retailers and the courier system will be unable to cope.

Mountains of online purchases are already sitting in sorting offices and warehouses waiting to be delivered.

Courier industry experts warned there were already an estimated 200million more online orders in the parcel delivery system this year before the last-minute rush.

David Jinks, of home delivery firm ParcelHero, said: ‘There are likely to be a lot of disappointed faces on Christmas morning.

‘Millions of people will have had their shopping plans disrupted. Parcels will arrive but not necessarily in time for the big day.

‘Christmas isn’t cancelled but warn your kids it might be postponed.’