Business hopes for a Christmas miracle fizzle out on fears over level five restrictions

The recommendation of top health advisers to move to level five has raised fears about the Christmas season

Budget gifts were bestowed upon hospitality and tourism and on live entertainment. Picture: Larry Cummins

Talking about Christmas shopping in early October would usually lead to grumbling and cribbing about the festivities coming earlier every year.

This year, however, as the queues outside Smyths Toy Superstores showed, many are starting gift shopping out of fear that the polar express is headed straight for a level five lockdown.