AS THE countdown to Christmas approaches, lingerie assistants across Bath are bracing themselves for their busiest time of year, and especially the huge and sudden interest shown by men in all things lacy and elasticated.

According to Pat Weymouth, lingerie consultant for Rigby & Peller at Jollys department store in Bath: "Men rush in, usually straight from the pub and grab the first thing they see.

"Some do know what they want for their wife or girlfriend, while a lot don't. And yes, they'll use their hands to say 'she's a bit like this, a bit like that'. But we're used to it.

"They can spend up to hundreds of pounds and often it's red coloured lingerie they buy," she said.

Not surprisingly, men used to buying their own underwear as either 'small', 'medium' or 'large' are confused by the vast array of different styles on offer and perhaps more understandably, the complexity of women's sizes.

According to Lynette Blackford, lingerie departmental manager for BHS in Bath, the buying frenzy usually reaches fever pitch at four o'clock on Christmas Eve afternoon.

"I get men coming in with photos of their partners on holiday wearing a bikini and I am expected to guess what size they are from that," she said.

"They all tend to go for the most gaudy colours, thinking they are picking out a treat. But the majority of items are returned straight after Christmas by the wives or girlfriends and replaced by something several sizes different and usually in white.

"So we spend time with each customer helping them select something appropriate," she said.

Of course, even if men know the correct size of their wife or girlfriend, they can still come unstuck not knowing a thong from a basque, an uplift from a balcony plunge.

Nick Romans, department head at Marks and Spencer in Bath, said: "Men only tend to come in once to buy underwear as a gift and it's really important that we help them to get it right.".

Which is why, in an effort to make this year different, the Bath Star has got together with its distinguished panel of experts to draw up three top tips to help make sure that everyone stays happy on Christmas Day morning.

First, and most important, is actually knowing if your partner is a 38B with a 12 waist or a 36C and a 16 waist. Said Pat from Jollys: "Before you come into town, have a quick look in her wardrobe or underwear drawer to get an idea of her size."

Secondly, ask for help. "We can take them through the whole process" said Mick Romans from Marks and Spencer. "We ask what it is they have in mind and are happy to help them find it" he said.

Lynette from BHS said: "I see men come in about a month before Christmas and case the joint. They are most surprised when the underwear they spotted earlier is not there at four o'clock on Christmas Eve."