A survey into the UK's Christmas card buying habits has revealed 10 per cent of those surveyed in Wales will be sending season's greetings to pets this year.

However, the festive bunch also have a more light-hearted approach to the festive period, as they're more likely to send humorous cards than their other British counterparts.

The survey goes on to reveal that Scottish card-givers are the UK's most charitable and Northern Ireland is officially the nation's yuletide Scrooge after 15 per cent admitted they won't be sending out Christmas cards at all.

The East of England is the most sociable, with greater numbers sending cards to 100 plus than anywhere else in the country, while the South East wins the title for 'most generous' after they topped the survey for spending a whopping £100plus on cards.

Interestingly, the nation as a whole is more likely to send festive greetings to friends (81 per cent), rather than parents (53 per cent), siblings (55 per cent) or other family members (72 per cent), proving the modern adage that “friends are the 21st century family”.

What's more, cost is king for UK card buyers, as almost two thirds (61 per cent) put price before any other factor. When they do buy, traditional Christmas symbols such as stockings or Christmas trees win out over religious, Victorian or humourous options as the most popular festive design.

The survey was commissioned by some of the UK's leading online retailers, including Jessops, Photoworld and iwantoneofthose.com