CONSUMER Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has reminded buyers of their rights after an extra £6 billion was spent on the High Street in December.

Mr Sutcliffe said people who opened their presents on Christmas Day and found them broken or not working properly were entitled to a refund whether the presents were bought at shops, street markets, mail order catalogues or door-to-door sellers.

He added: "Knowing your rights gives shoppers a much better chance of getting problems sorted out."

Key points to know include:

Your legal rights are against the seller, don't be put off by the argument that it is the manufacturers' fault.

If you act quickly you are entitled to a refund, don't be fobbed off with a replacement, repair or credit note.

If you keep the goods for a longer trial period you may lose the right to a refund, but you can still claim for compensation, repair or replacement.

If you request a repair or replacement, for the first six months the seller has to prove that the goods were not faulty when you bought them, not the other way round.

You do not have to have a receipt when returning faulty goods, but the seller can ask for some proof of purchase eg credit card slip, cheque stub or bank statement.

It is also important to remember that shoppers rights only apply to the person who bought the present, not the recipient, so people may have to ask the friend or relative who bought it to take it back.

Further advice is available from Citizens Advice Bureaux or Trading Standards.