On a busy afternoon last week, the chic Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette was packed with shoppers who had travelled from all over the world to spend their money on designer clothes, shoes and handbags. But one of the busiest spots in this temple to fashion wasn’t Chanel or Dior but the brightly-lit “Détaxe” office, where tourists can take advantage of European laws to pick up a hefty duty-free refund on their purchases.

Among them is Scott Wilford, 62, who had travelled from his home in London to Paris on business. Tagging a quick shopping trip on to the end of his day, he had picked up nearly £1,000 worth of goods from upmarket designers Hugo Boss and Vanessa Bruno. “I’ve got back around £100,”