Online clothes shopping lures people from the high street

Spanish clothing retailer Zara is opening its new online store in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the UK.

The group already sells a home range online, but its revamped website will offer fashion lines which have only been available in its stores until now.

The push into cyberspace is seen as a defensive move that comes amid fears of a decline in High Street spending.

Consumer confidence is waning and many fear a further economic slowdown. Online fashion sales, meanwhile, are proving resilient.

Julia Caesar reports.