PEOPLE in the North-East are the most generous in the country when buying Christmas presents, according to a survey.

Festive shoppers spend an average of £336, or £28.50 per gift, according to a poll commissioned by BAA Airports.

The study of 1,000 people showed that North-Easterners are among the most likely to drop subtle hints about their preferred presents.

Seven per cent of gifts are said to be never used, while the most useless presents are ornaments.

Forty-seven per cent of people have discarded gifts, usually by giving them away.

The research revealed that Britons waste £1.4bn a year on unwanted Christmas gifts.

Report author Jan Walsh said: "If people pick up on the hints and make this year's Christmas gift buying the most successful ever, they'll save a lot of misdirected expense. The average cost of just one person's stack of presents is more than £300."