Britons waste £500 million a year on Christmas presents they know will not be liked, research says.

About 12 per cent of people said they knew their gift was likely to be rejected when they bought it.

A quarter of those questioned admitted to recycling presents they didn't like, said insurance firm esure.

Fifty-eight per cent said the most annoying gift was a book or CD they didn't like.

Monday December 15, 2003