Brits to spend £1bn on World Cup entertainment gear

Brits caught up in World Cup fever will fork out more than£1 billion over the next two weeks on high-tech home entertainment equipment, according to a study.

The YouGov report, commissioned by insurers Direct Line, found that one in five of those hoping to follow the tournament plan to buy new digital devices.

Widescreen televisions, satellite boxes and recordable DVD players are top choices, with consumers spending an average of£369 per purchase. Men are expected to spend£461 each, almost twice as much as women, who will splash out£245.