Sales rose sharply at independent book retailer Foyles over the Christmas period.

LIke-for-like sales for the trading period from December 1 - 25, including the Charing Cross Road flagship, improved by 18.5% against last year.

Foyles, which trades from four stores in London, ran an advertising campaign on the tube and primes sites in central London during the period and A Little History of the World, by EH Gombrich, topped the retailer’s bestseller list.

All but one of the books on Foyles’ Christmas Top Ten sold at full price. Sam Husain, chief executive, said: “We are delighted that all four shops performed so well at Christmas, particularly in a difficult retail climate. It is equally pleasing to see so many of our bestsellers selling so strongly at full price.”

Foyles added 1,300 sq ft to the ground floor of its Charing Cross Road store just ahad of Christmas, allowing it to expand its new title, chidlren’s and fiction departents.