Buying the perfect present can often prove tricky, so we Prime Time's Rachael Popow shopping for some inspirational ideas

CHRISTMAS is traditionally a time for families, but while it may be wonderful to spend the entire festive season surrounded by your loved ones, it can also make your Christmas shopping a nightmare.

Coming up with new and different present ideas every single year can be extremely difficult, but don't despair - if you know where to look, there's something unique out there for even the hardest-to-buy-for relatives.

Grandparents often enjoy being surrounded by photos of their loved ones, so you can't usually go wrong with an interesting photo frame. Tesco's Gold Coloured Jewelled frame (£3.97) is perfect for cherished snaps, and pet lovers will be thrilled with the supermarket's special Cat and Dog Photo frames (£3 each).

Green-fingered granddads may prefer Boots Country Living Gardener's Trug Gift Set (£20), which comes complete with seeds, twine and scatters, while the Domestic Delight range could be just the thing for house-proud grannies.

Buying someone cleaning products may sound like a sure fire way to get yourself struck off their Christmas card list for good, but the Kitsch Kitchen set (£12), which includes a bottle of pink washing-up liquid, a pink feather duster, and a pair of extremely chic rubber gloves, should go down a storm with all domestic goddesses.

If you can afford to splash out a little more, then Red Letter Days have come up with their Culture Couples days out.

For £125, your grandparents could enjoy the RHS Flower Show Experience, with access to either Chelsea, Hampton Court or Tatton Park shows, or the new Wedgwood Experience day, which provides a fascinating history of the famous 250-year-old company and a tour of the Wedgwood Story, the factory's multi million pound visitor attraction.

The vouchers are available from selected stores across the country, including Allders, Debenhams, Harrods, House of Fraser stores and Selfridges.

If you're stuck for ideas about what to get your mum or an auntie, then why not check out Superdrug's impressive range of girly gadgets.

The silver clip-on Talking Pedometer and Calorie Burner (£9.99) will calculate if you've managed to work off that extra helping of Christmas pud and will help mums stick to their New Year's resolutions in style.

If it's usually dad who gets the DIY-themed presents for Christmas, why not break with tradition and give mum the Superdrug's Ladies' Screwdriver Set (£6.99), which contains four animal print screwdrivers with marabou trim, or the bright pink 10 in 1 Battery Operated Girlie Screwdriver (£14.99). Putting up shelves has never been so chic or so glamorous.

However, girls about town who think a screwdriver is a cocktail, not a tool, will probably prefer to while away their spare time playing Marks and Spencer's Sex and the City Trivia Game (£5), or soaking in Virgin Vie's Seduction Decadent Bath Nectar (£16).

And of course, jewellery will always make an impression. Debenham's Diamante Cuff by Jon Richard (£31) should definitely put the sparkle into somebody's Christmas and will look great in the J by Jasper Conran faux leopard skin and fushcia jewellery box (£50).

Dads and uncles with a taste for the high life will love the Deluxe Poker Layout (£40) from Debenhams.

Complete with a felt layout and chips it will instantly transform your living room into a casino.

Male relations who like to think they're a dab hand in the kitchen won't be able to resist wielding the cook's torch in Gordon Ramsey Crme Brulee Set (£25) from Boots, but dads who prefer eating to cooking will probably appreciate a hamper.

World of Food's Gentleman's Gift Set (£15) from House of Fraser includes wild boar pat, which will taste delicious on the black pepper and sea salt biscuits.

Big kids can relive their lost childhoods with Mark and Spencer's Scalextric compatible Starsky and Hutch Racing Set (£79) or recreate their favourite scenes from The Italian Job with the Mini Cooper Groovy Rider (£14.99) from Woolworths.

Teenagers can be hard to buy for, especially as they aren't particularly good when it comes to feigning enthusiasm for presents they don't like.

Luckily, most teenage girls will be genuinely pleased to receive Superdrug's Gloss 2 Go Kit (£5.99) which contains a shimmer lipgloss and sparkling body lotion and comes in two choices of fragrance - toffee crunch or berry fiesta. And if you light up their bedroom with the Glitter Babes Disco Tower (£25 from Boots), they won't even have to leave the house to enjoy that disco ambience.

Boys can enjoy their favourite sounds on Woolworth's Army Portable Boom Box (£24.99) - perfect for listening to while him and his mates get stuck into the Mini Table Tennis Set (£10) from Superdrug.

Little ones are probably the easiest people to please.

Their letters to Santa contain some pretty big hints about what they would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning, and even if they don't like their presents, they'll happily play with the wrapping.

However, if you're still looking for a few quirky stocking fillers, there's plenty to choose from, including the Lion Binoculars (£4) from Tesco or Mr Men Giant Snakes and Ladders (£10) from House of Fraser.

With gifts like these, you can be sure of a very happy family this Christmas.