Useful presents are topping shoppers' lists of must-buy Christmas gifts this year, with funny, sentimental or expensive items far less popular.

That's according to research released today by Christian charity Compassion UK in advance of tomorrow's Black Friday sale.

The charity has launched its Make My Christmas Appeal to help give gifts to almost 2 million children living in poverty around the world this Christmas.

Half of shoppers are focused on buying Christmas gifts that people will find useful or have specifically asked for this year. Fewer than one in 10 (seven per cent) say that finding a bargain is the driving force behind selecting the perfect gift.

Researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults found despite shoppers having an average of seven people to buy gifts for, two in five (38 per cent) find Christmas shopping stressful or worrying, with women getting more stressed than men.

Compassion UK spokeswoman Amy Carter said: 'This week millions of people will be hitting shops and online stores to tick people off their Christmas shopping lists. Here at Compassion we hand-pick a gift for every child living in poverty around the world that is in our programme.

'Whether it's a pair of shoes that is desperately needed, or a child's first toy, Compassion's programme staff purchase each gift locally. Despite almost 2 million children to buy gifts for, our team find Christmas shopping exciting and joyful, and of course the look on each child's face when they receive their gift is priceless.'

Compassion UK's Make My Christmas Appeal is helping to ensure that the 1.82 million children who have sponsors around the world receive a handpicked Christmas present this year. It has also identified another 160,959 children in the communities where it works who are living in poverty and would benefit from receiving the support provided by Compassion's sponsorship programme .