Discount supermarket Lidl recorded record UK sales in December, with a rise of 16 per cent on the same period in 2016.

Thrifty shoppers bought about 600 tonnes of Brussels sprouts, 17 million mince pies and more than 800,000 litres of champagne and prosecco from the chain, as reported by the BBC.

Lidl opened nine stores during the holiday period, taking the total to 693 - an increase of 43 on 2016.

The company, which has stores across Gloucestershire, had its strongest trading week in UK history in the week before Christmas, with a record trading day on 22nd December.

Moving upmarket, Sainsbury's, which has stores in Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester, also had a good Christmas. The UK's second largest supermarket chain said grocery sales rose 2.3 per cent.

The company sold 1.1 per cent more over the last three months, as higher grocery sales made up for a 1.4 per cent fall in general merchandise and slower clothing sales.

Sainsbury's said it had record sales over Christmas, as discounted turkeys and other trimmings brought in more shoppers.

The company now expects pre-tax profits to be slightly higher than the previous estimate of £559m.