Laura Ashley is lifted by strong sales at home

Furniture-to-fashion chain Laura Ashley saw relatively strong UK sales counter a slide in overseas revenues last year as it weathered the worst of the recession.

The group, which is controlled by Far Eastern investors, said while total sales rose by 3% in the year to end-January at £268 million, UK same-store sales were up by 3.5% at £244 million.

Pre-tax profits increased 8% to £11 million but the dividend for the year is trimmed from 1.25p a share to 1p.

Chairman Tan Sri Dr KP Khoo said: "This has been another year of continued revenue growth for Laura Ashley despite a difficult market."

In the eight weeks since the year end like-for-like UK sales are running 4.6% ahead of last year's.