Research has shown that around one in 10 pensioners will spend Christmas Eve and Day alone this year, reports the Daily Mail.

Although half of these people find the day "overrated", the other half say they "dread it", particularly when having to wake up and go to sleep alone, 68 percent of pensioners have at least one family member to share in festivities with, however, and numerous sharing it with their daily acquaintances - those working in domiciliary care jobs, many of whom will spend their holidays caring for the elderly and vulnerable.

Of course, this dread is not contained exclusively to the elderly, with 18 percent of Britons citing the same feeling - especially when it comes to the amount of money many feel they are expected to spend, or the stresses of entertaining guests.

Many people are worried about the startling figure, with the commissioner of the survey, Paul Woolley saying "we should be concerned that people aged 65 and over are most likely to spend Christmas alone." He added in The Express that "The stark differences between Christmas for the rich and poor in society should trouble us. The financial downturn is clearly forcing people to tighten their belts this year."

82 percent of people intend to spend less this Christmas, either voluntarily or due to circumstance, claiming it will be better as it can let them, "focus on the things that matter."

22 percent of Britons will require a loan of some sort to get them through the financial pressures of the festive season, and 62 percent of respondents said they would not be attending a church service - with many believing the holiday has become too commercialised and that the true meaning has been lost.