Strong sale figures posted by John Lewis

DEPARTMENT store chain John Lewis posted a 15.1 per year-on-year increase in sales during the week to 20 February, boosted by half-term school holidays in England and parts of Scotland.

The employee-owned company has now posted six straight weeks of double-digit sales rises.

Edinburgh's John Lewis store posted a 5.2 per cent increase, while sales in Glasgow were 2.4 per cent ahead. But Aberdeen was the second worst-performing shop in the UK, with sales down 8.9 per cent.

Director of operational development Andrew Murphy said: "The impact of mid term was most evident in fashion, with a 21 per cent gain, followed by home on 19 per cent."

Supermarket chain Waitrose posted a 13.7 per cent sales rise.