Amazon has posted its fourth successive quarter of record profits as its first-quarter income more than doubled.

The online retailer reported net income of $3.6bn (£2.8bn) for the three months to March 31, up from $1.6bn (£1.25bn) for the same period the previous year.

Operating income more than doubled to $4.4bn (£3.5bn), up from $1.9bn (£1.5bn) the previous year.

Amazon’s net sales during the period increased 17% to $59.7bn (£46.3bn), with US sales up 17% and international sales recording more sluggish growth of 9%.

The online retailer warned that it expected sales growth for its second quarter to slow to between 13% and 20%.

Amazon unveiled plans to create around 1,000 full-time apprenticeship roles which will be filled over the next two years and add to the retailer’s 27,500 current UK employees.

Once qualified, apprentices will have the chance to work across one of Amazon’s corporate and operations sites, including the company’s UK head office and three development centres in Edinburgh, Cambridge and London.

A new fulfilment centre in Chesterfield will create another 200 jobs.

The retail giant also announced it will be speeding up its Amazon Prime delivery service across some areas in the US from free shipping in two days to one day.