Half of small businesses working through Christmas Day

While many Britons were spending Christmas with their loved ones, almost half of small businesses were planning on working through the holidays, according to a new survey.

In the first annual Small Business Optimism Index, conducted by eBay and YouGov, nearly one in two small businesses surveyed said they would not be taking a break at Christmas.

And a third told the survey that they believed trading during the period was vital for their growth.

A number of small businesses in such a situation spoke to the Guardian - including sausage producer Heck Foods, which usually sells enough pork chipolatas in December for 500,000 households worth of pigs-in-blankets.

"There's no one else on the road during the drive to the factory, and the phones don't ring", said owner Andrew Keeble.

"There's also something very satisfying about working on Christmas Day knowing that people all around the UK are enjoying our wares."

Tash Khan, co-founder of gift e-tailer Ecomnova, shared similar sentiments - saying it was also one of the most productive days of the year, thanks to a lack of distractions.

"It's a busy day with such a quick turnaround between Christmas Day and the start of the sales on Boxing Day. We'll be merchandising the websites and replacing all the Christmas products with our sale stock and spring collections", he said.

And Tim Foster, co-owner of the six-venue Yummy Pub Co, said his watering holes would be open for staff and customers to celebrate together on the big day.

"We all wear Christmas jumpers and enter into the spirit of the day, which our customers seem to love", he said.

"The only festivity we don't participate in is the drinking - that comes later. Once our doors close we lay on a traditional Christmas dinner and the whole team sits down to celebrate together."