NEXT, the UK's third largest clothing retailer, has reported a 24 per cent rise in profits over the past half-year after sales benefited from "better products in bigger stores".

The group said pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of July rose to £115.8m, up from £93m in the same period last year. Turnover jumped 26 per cent to £944.8m.

Chairman David Jones said: "Next continues to increase its sales on the high street and direct to home, with Next brand turnover moving forward by more than 20 per cent against last year. This has been achieved through focusing on giving customers better products in bigger shops and larger catalogues."

The group said sales rose seven per cent on a like-for-like basis in its 255 shops trading for more than a year.