The number of contactless payments has been soaring in the UK, with 226% more contactless transactions compared to the same period last year, according to data collected by WorldPay.

The data found that contactless payments in the UK have more than tripled (249%) since last year from 12.5 million in December 2012 to 43.6 million in December 2013.

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WorldPay said that currently 38.1 million contactless cards are in use across the UK, accounting to about 25.7% of all credit, and debit and charge cards.

According to WorldPay, one in five (17%) of customers in London use contactless cards, followed by Manchester and Leeds (12%), while only 4% people use contactless cards in Bristol.

To date, WorldPay customers have completed more than 61m contactless payments with total cash worth £433m.

The transactional data from WorldPay found that consumer confidence in contactless has grown with the average sale size increasing by 27% in just two years.

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The research also revealed that 93% of people who have used contactless payments find them quick and efficient, while 60% identify the contactless symbol.

According to the research, one in three people (31%) said they are irritated to pay in shops, while almost half (47%) are dissatisfied with the delay in making a card payment in a bar, café or restaurant and 65% of them would not visit again if forced to wait a long time.

WorldPay UK managing director, Dave Hobday said: "If you are a business regularly taking payments of £20 or less, installing contactless is a must for keeping your customers happier, serving them quicker, and getting as many sales as possible during peak times."