Laura Ashley has reported a like-for-like sales uplift of 6.9 per cent in the 17 weeks to May 30.

The homewares and fashion retailer said that promotional activity had helped increase total UK retail sales by 8.4 per cent.

It said that it expects the general economy will “continue to be challenging and unpredictable” and said it would take a more “considered” pace with its store openings. It opened just one UK store and three stores in France in the last 17 weeks.

Laura Ashley said that its e-commerce and mail order sales grew by 11 per cent for the period although it was mainly driven by e-commerce sales which soared 41.6 per cent while mail order sales fell 24.2 per cent. 

It added: “Despite the challenging economic environment, the board remains cautiously optimistic for the current year.”