THOUSANDS of last-minute Christmas shoppers crammed in to Colchester to pick up presents on what was billed as the busiest shopping hour of the year.

There was a queue of 20 men outside the Pandora shop before it opened at 9am, while shoppers complained of queues ten deep at each till in Marks and Spencer.

Businesses said the main culprits were husbands and sons who had left their shopping until the last minute.

Alison Bowers, 20, sales assistant at Frippery, in Sir Isaac’s Walk, said: “We have had so many men who come in whohave no idea what to buy.

“Everyone seems to have come in at the same time.

“Men have been coming in and saying their wives love the shop, but they don’t knowwhat to get, so we suggest things to help them out.

“It’s been very busy.”

Credit card company Visa Europe predicted £1.3billion would be spent on its cards yesterday – £916,667 will be spent every minute, with the peak time between 1pm and 2pm.

Shoppers crammed the streets, loaded with bags, as they picked up presents and Christmas food.

However, it wasn’t just the lunch hour which boomed.

Carats jewellers, in Sir Isaac’s Walk, said they had seen a rush throughout the week.

A spokeswoman said: “A lot of husbands come and ask us what we would buy.

“I think everyone has left it to the last minute this year. It’s definitely very busy.”

Madeleine Edwards, of chocolate shop Minerva, said it had been busier on Monday. She said: “I think a lot of people take this week in the run-up to Christmas off now, so they don’t have to leave it until lunchtime on Christmas Eve to shop.

“We find Christmas Eve is actually quiet in the afternoon now.”