Blockbuster UK has insisted that the troubles its US parent Blockbuster Inc are facing do not threaten the British division.

Blockbuster UK managing director Martin Higgins said: “I do not foresee anything happening in the US business that will negatively impact the UK in any way.”

Blockbuster Inc, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September, is considering putting itself up for sale after creditors could not agree on plans to allow it more funding and enable it to exit bankruptcy protection, it is understood.

Higgins said Blockbuster UK, which is a separate legal entity, had just completed “a successful year’s trading” and that fourth-quarter like-for-like sales were positive.

“We are trading as normal and expect to continue to do so,” he said.

Blockbuster UK, which is under increasing pressure from online-only rivals such as Amazon-owned Lovefilm, managed a pre-tax profits rise from £3m to £4.6m in the year to January 3, 2010 when operating profit almost doubled to £3.5m.