Online sales boost for New Look

The retailer, which has around 600 stores across the UK, clawed its way out of the red with annual pre-tax profits of £3.1m against losses of £54.5m a year earlier despite tough high street trading.

Online sales leapt 50.1 per cent higher after a concerted push for its internet offering, rolling out a click and collect and order-in-store service.

The group now has 2.5 million visits a week to its site. Its stores suffered a more difficult year after sales slumped 3.1 per cent in the first half, leaving overall UK comparable sales 0.5 per cent lower in the year to March 30.