John Lewis sales have risen 11 per cent so far this week year on year.

This follows a 7 per cent sales increase for the week to Novemebr 17. On Saturday, sales jumped 10 per cent year on year as the benefits of colder weather and Christmas spending began to kick in.

Director of selling operations Dan Knowles said: “This week is going incredibly well, we are 11 per cent up so far. This is due to a continuation of last week’s cold snap and an increasingly festive feel in our shops.Competitor promotions have also driven footfall.”

The group’s Oxford Street store posted sales 10 per cent ahead of last year, with Kingston and Aberdeen also performing strongly.