It has been a merry festive period for family-owned department store Palmers, which has increased its monthly sales figures by 50pc on last year after launching a new website.

The company said online shoppers had flocked to its new website over the festive period and in the three days following Christmas Day. In just 72 hours, shoppers collectively placed more than 60 orders, with luxury bed linen, wine glasses and champagne flutes topping the list.

Palmers is still owned and run by descendants of the store's founder, Garwood Burton Palmer, and turns over around �15m a year. It employs 300 people across its five stores in Great Yarmouth, Dereham, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds.

The store said December was the most successful month ever for the store, with online takings beating the total revenue made in October and November combined.

Emma Sturrock, Palmers' website manager said: 'Customers are interested in our higher-priced branded ranges such as Kylie, Kirstie Allsopp and Cath Kidston – all of which have been marked down for our big winter sale. On top of having an easy-to-use website, being independent is certainly part of our appeal.'