BAKERY group Greggs toasted the strength of the high street during the festive period as it reported a surge in sales for the second half.

The Newcastle business saw like-for-like sales in the last six months of 2001 rise by a record nine per cent, topping the 6.9 per cent rise seen in the first 24 weeks to June 16.

Favourable weather and an increased number of shoppers pounding the streets over Christmas led to the growth, which is forecast to help pre-tax profits for the year hit £30m, roughly £4m up on 2000.

All year Greggs had been focusing on improving its range of takeaway foods and savoury snacks as the supermarket giants battled it out over the price of bread.

Biggest sales growth came from the takeaway and savoury division.

Finance director Malcolm Simpson said the sales performance over the Christmas period was "better than expected". He added: "Some of it has come from the weather, the lack of extremes, but some of it has also come from the strength of the high-street."