Laura Ashley saw like-for-like sales up 4.9% in the first 19 weeks of the second half of its year to December 12.

Overall, sales at the fashion and home furnishings retailer rose by 8.8%, partly as a result of promotional activity. Online sales were up 47.5%.
The company, which operates 231 stores, said it expected the full year’s trading to be broadly in line with expectations.