Disappointing weather last week helped lift John Lewis sales which were up 9.3 per cent on a year earlier.

The department store achieved sales of £47.8 million in the week to last Saturday, but the comparison with warmer conditions last year did not benefit sister company Waitrose, which reported a slender 0.8 per cent rise in weekly sales.

The supermarket chain said the conditions meant sales of soups were up by 27 per cent, while lamb and pork were also in demand - up 8 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

The department store business said the unsettled weather drove footfall in its shops, with branches in regional shopping centres among those doing well.

Selling director Barry Matheson said: "While the comparisons against us were softer than of late, that in no way detracted from the strength of the performance given the extremely challenging trading conditions we are in."

John Lewis said electricals sales rose by 14.7 per cent - helped by strong growth in televisions - while fashion was up by 13.7 per cent and homewares steadied after the decline of the previous week to stand just 0.5 per cent lower.

Among individual branches, London's Oxford Street rose 16.3 per cent on a year earlier and Aberdeen lifted 8.1 per cent.

In the out-of-town estate, Bluewater was up 6.7 per cent, Milton Keynes ahead 12.6 per cent and the Trafford Centre 6.9 per cent higher.

John Lewis said its online operation continued to do well, with sales during the week 39 per cent stronger than a year earlier.

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