Nearly half of shoppers in Kent like to get up early in the morning to buy Christmas presents, according to a retail study.

Consumers in Essex were the biggest early risers, with 57% opting to get their festive spending done in the morning, compared to 45% in the Garden of England and 43% in Sussex.

Only 20% of people in the county decide to shop in the later hours, according to a survey of 1,000 shoppers in the South East by Bluewater shopping centre.

A third of the county’s consumers spend more than 10 hours shopping.

Nearly one in 10 across the South East will spend 31 hours or more hunting for presents.

The top three bugbears for Kent shoppers specifically were feeling uninspired about what to buy for people (38%), wrapping presents (22%) and trying to finish all the Christmas shopping on time (17%).

Bluewater general manager Robert Goodman said: “We understand that Christmas shopping can be a stressful time for many.

“We are constantly looking for ways to ensure our guests enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience, such as offering free extra-wide car park spaces for visitors throughout the whole year.”