Retailer reports best ever trading week, helped again by strong toy sales.

The firm said it saw sales of £110million in the week to Saturday December 12th, up 15 per cent on the year earlier period.

The sales are the most the retailer ever taken in seven days and more than eight per cent up on its previous biggest week two years ago.

Among the most popular products were toys including Hasbro's Biscuit My Fun Lovin Pup, a mini micro scooter, and Nintendo's Wii black console.

Andrew Murphy, director of operational development and customer services, said the performance showed that "we are on decent form and that there must be some strengthening of consumer confidence."