Comet chairman John Clare has said the retailer has enjoyed its best sales for two years and is hoping to break even this year.

Clare told The Sun that the electrical retailer’s sales in February were ahead of last year and that its turnaround is going “as well as we’d have hoped”.

Comet was sold to private equity group OpCapita for £2 last month and up to 2,000 staff have been put on notice to try to slash costs.

Clare said: “Last month we beat our own forecasts. It was the best sales month for at least a couple of years. But we are trying to come out of a bloody big hole.”

The retailer’s chairman said Comet has been taking a “more focussed” approach to products and advertising.

Clare is expected to meet with landlords this week to discuss closures within its 240 store chain. Comet has earmarked 61 stores for closure.