With Christmas rapidly approaching many people are just about deciding what gifts to treat their loved ones to this holiday season. However recent HGV driver shortages could be throwing a spanner in the works.

Speculations tell that the next big shortage supermarket shelves could be facing are festive items, including children’s toys and Christmas crackers as well as Christmas dinner staples.

However, local businesses such as Etsy retailer Izzy Smith does not seem concerned about panic buyers. She said: “there has been a recent increase in the sales of Christmas products like our stockings and Christmas Eve boxes. But this is a trend we tend to see every year at around this time, so it isn’t unusual.”

Following last Christmas, where many people were unable to see their families due to the pandemic, more people seem to be favouring the traditional values of Christmas over extravagant shows of gifts and goodies.

Mrs Smith said: “I personally don’t agree with panic buying, as this tends to lead to more issues with the supply chain like we saw with grocery shortages during lock down. Christmas is about more than the latest toys and spending money.”

With countdowns for the big day beginning, many people are starting to stock up on festive goods, but the togetherness of Christmas still seems to remain