Shopping on the internet, you have the whole world at your disposal.

Fashion from Milan, candy from the United States, furniture from the Far East. In theory, the possibilities are endless.

More exciting still is the possibility of tracking down some undiscovered treasures a bit closer to home.

The internet has given some of our best small-scale food producers, manufacturers and craftsmen the opportunity to offer their products to customers outside their local area.

Distinctly British, for instance, is a virtual department store offering unique, quality and quintessentially-British products from a range of hand-selected, small established companies.

The food and drink section is the largest, with regional butchers offering the usual cuts of meat, sausages and more unusual delicacies such as venison, rabbit, wood pigeon, salmon, trout, oils, vinegars and spices, hand-made chocolate truffles and Somerset cider brandy.

In the household and garden section, you will find chopping boards, towels, porcelain, candles, clocks, tree houses and bird tables.

Gifts and collectibles offers rocking horses, china, perfumes and toiletries, floral displays, leather bound books, picture frames and albums.

You can then place an order for as many items from as many different producers as you like.

But don't go too mad as fulfilment is carried out by the individual companies and you'll incur separate postage charges from each one. Delivery times are likely to vary too.

Speciality Foods from Britain offers the chance to buy from some of our finest breweries, vineyards, smokehouses, butchers, bakers, farmers and confectioners and have the goods delivered to your door.

In no time at all, you could be enjoying apple juice from a Hampshire orchard, sausages from Suffolk and smoked venison and chicken from the Scottish Highlands.

Also worth a look is Emporium UK which offers an eclectic mix of quality home-produced items.

You'll find wrought iron chandeliers, desk gadgets, picnic bags, toys, wine coolers and bathroom accessories among the 100 or so on offer.

Delivery is free on this site and takes around seven days.

But the prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which is only added at the checkout and could make quite a difference to your total.

While it's obviously not too late to amend your basket at this stage, you're likely to be extremely reluctant to part with your new-found goodies.

www.distinctlybritish.com
www.speciality-foods.com
www.emporiumuk.com