Mobile payments via smart phones and tablets increased by 356 percent from the same time last year, according to a IMRG Capgemini report.

The report detailed a total spend of £34.9 billion by British shoppers during the first six months of 2012.

Richard Lym, economist at the British Retail Consortium, said, “Most retailers would agree the pace of technology is moving at a frightening pace, and they are having trouble keeping up as we move forward".

The head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, Chris Webster, said: “Mobile commerce is still the big story here, with average order values comparable to the full website”.