CHRISTMAS dinner is set to cost less than last year thanks to the rise of the discounters, bringing welcome news for consumers facing the expense of the festive season.

Good Housekeeping said it would be possible to provide a festive feast for just £2.66 per guest by shopping around various supermarkets for the cheapest ingredients.

It said the drop in cost was a direct result of the battle between the discounters and the traditional supermarkets pulling prices down for all consumers.

The magazine’s sixth annual survey found the cheapest Christmas basket is down three per cent on last year.