Amazon prepares for record-breaking 'cyber Monday'

Online retailer Amazon is preparing for high sales figures on 'cyber Monday', the busiest day of the year for online shopping that often takes place on the first Monday of December.

Last year the first Monday of the month fell on December 8th and the company claims its UK site sold more than 16 items every second to produce its highest ever sales for a 24-hour period, reports the Guardian.

It believes this year's figure could be up to 36 per cent higher as more people shop online to search for the best deals in the lead-up to Christmas.

Allan Lyall, vice president for European operations at Amazon, told the paper: "Around this time of year we are looking at two to three times our normal run rate. Last year a delivery truck was leaving the warehouse every five and a half seconds."

More people are using the internet to search for prices that are often more competitive than on the high street, while technology such as VoIP solutions can help users stay in touch easily and cheaply.

BT is investing £1.5 billion in next-generation connectivity throughout the UK.