The group posted a surplus of £76m for the year to August 31, which was marginally better than expected in the City.

Sales at its 449 store travel portfolio rose three per cent on a like-for-like basis excluding tobacco, helping offset a 3 per cent decline in comparable sales within the high street business.

WH Smith said it had also met cost cutting targets, saving £8m over the year, with another £10m due to be trimmed.

The group said it expected a "competitive Christmas trading season", but hoped to buoy business with the roll-out of six more standalone book stores before the end of the year at airports, taking its total to 15.

It is also launching a new postal service in 400 existing stores with express carrier DHL, targeted largely at the eBay users market.

WH Smith introduced the first DHL postal point on Wednesday, allowing customers to buy pre-packaged boxes and put them in secure in-store collection points to be sent out.

It will begin introducing the service across its other stores this autumn.