Sales at upmarket department store Liberty rose 40% in the first four months of this year, owner MWB has reported.

The growth of the AIM-listed retailer’s fabrics division and online sales, as well as the landmark shop, helped bring the sales total to £26m in the period to April, compared to £18.5m in the equivalent four months last year.

Talks about selling Liberty for £32m to private equity house BlueGem Capital Partners are ongoing, MWB reported, and a further announcement will be made “at the appropriate time”.

Liberty yesterday completed the sale of its iconic Great Marlborough Street premises for £41.5m.