Sainsbury's has announced a rapid expansion of its Click & Collect service, enabling customers to take advantage of the facility in over 800 stores by Christmas.

The service allows customers to place non-food orders online before 14:00 BST, which they can then collect or receive via delivery the next day.

Tanya Lawler, Sainsbury's director of Direct Channels, explained that customers enjoyed the ease of the service, allowing swift online payments and rapid deliveries.

Ms Lawler added: "It means they get all of the benefits of shopping online – the ease of use, competitive prices and a wide range of products – but can pick up their items in a location convenient to them the next day."

Its online non-food website was launched in July 2009 and carries over 15,000 products.

Sainsbury's has seen a huge popularity in online orders made over recent months and currently processes 120,000 grocery orders each week through its food site, ready for home delivery.