HOLLYWOOD star Johnny Depp helped to rescue at least one retailer's Christmas sales, according to the latest high street trading figures.

Music retailer HMV was one of the best performers, with sales in the five weeks to January 3 up 6.6 per cent.

The Christmas data, which also covers the Waterstone's book chain, was released at the same time as interim results showing a 70 per cent rise in half-year profits to £10.7m.

Star performers included Depp's swashbuckling action movie Pirates Of The Caribbean, albums by Dido, Black Eyed Peas and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Peter Kay Live DVD.

Chief executive Alan Giles said: ''The strong Christmas trading, coupled with a pleasing performance in the first half, leaves us well placed to deliver our targets in the group's second full financial year since flotation.''

Despite strong competition from supermarkets in the home entertainment sector, HMV said it continued to sell more music and DVDs than all of its grocery rivals combined.

Meanwhile, Woolworths said its tactics for the Christmas season had paid off with a ''satisfactory'' 0.8 per cent rise in like-for-like sales.

In the eight weeks to January 10, same-store sales for its main high street business rose 1.1 per cent, while Big W outlets grew 3.2 per cent. The overall performance was dragged down by a fall of six per cent at music-to-video retailer MVC.

But bosses said the group, which demerged from B&Q owner Kingfisher two years ago, forecast an improvement in profits for the year to February 1.

But there was less good news for cosmetics retailer Body Shop International, which said a decision to offer fewer discounts affected sales.

The group, based at Littlehampton, West Sussex, said like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland fell 16 per cent in the ten weeks to January 3.