Nationwide department store John Lewis saw a 6.7 per cent rise in the sales period over Easter, with trade strongest on Good Friday as customers stocked up for a four-day holiday.

With the Easter break falling earlier in the calendar than last year, like-for-like sales at its 26 department stores were 12 per cent higher, with childrenswear, footwear and stationery selling well as parents were shopping for their offspring to commence the new school term.

Department store sales totalled GBP42.2m in the week to April 10, with out-of-town branches, including stores at Bluewater and Cribbs Causeway, outperforming those in city centres.

The group's supermarket chain Waitrose saw Easter like-for-likes up by 4 per cent. Year-on-year, Waitrose sales were up 19.2 per cent for the week.