Growth continues in key categories
Halfords has revealed sales up 9.3 per cent and like-for-likes increased 6.5 per cent in the 26 weeks to September 29.

The figures were generally welcomed by City analysts, although some had hoped that comparable store sales would have been as much as 9 per cent ahead.

Halfords chief executive Ian McLeod said: '[Halfords] sales and service strategy has continued to deliver like-for-like sales growth in each of its key categories. We remain confident in the resilience of our business.'

The company added that, since revealing a share buy-back programme on June 8, it had spent£15.9 million on buying and cancelling 5.1 million shares at an average of 307.4p.

Share prices dipped slightly in morning trading to 338p.