These are the major high street Christmas returns policies - and your legal rights if you have an unwanted gift

Everyone hopes to unwrap the perfect gift on Christmas Day, but sometimes a present can be the wrong size, shape, or simply not to your liking.

The good news is that you are able to return unwanted items to stores, provided you can prove certain criteria.

How long do I have to return an item?

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you are legally entitled to return goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose, or not as described, and you have up to 30 days from the date you take ownership of the product.

While shops are not obligated to provide a full refund for goods purchased in store unless they are faulty, many retailers often still do - providing it is within the time frame outlined in their returns policy.

After the 30 day period, you will not be legally entitled to a full refund and will have fewer rights, meaning you may only be able to ask for a repair, replacement or partial refund.

However, some stores may often extend their refund policy around the festive season.

For goods purchased online, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations you have 14 days after your order is received to notify the seller you want to return the item and claim a full refund.

After you have informed the seller you wish to cancel your order, you then have a further 14 days to send the goods back.

These rights only apply to the person who made the purchase, so if you wish to return a present the store may ask the original buyer to make the return.

What do I need to return an item?

All retailers will usually require the following items to approve the return of a product: