SUPERMARKET chain Asda increased sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas due largely to non-food items such as televisions and computer games.

Although it does not release exact figures because they are "commercially sensitive", Asda said that the increase was a low double-digit figure.

Meanwhile, the Waitrose chain announced record sales in the run up to Christmas as shoppers stocked up on mince pies, Champagne and crackers.

The group said many shoppers left their shopping to the last minute, pushing sales figures for Christmas Eve up 88 per cent on the previous year, while sales for the seven days prior to the big event were up 9.3 per cent up.

Asda said its six new Asda Wal-Mart Supercentres had proved popular since their launch, notching up more than £30m between them in the 12 days before Christmas.

It said that that 85 of its stores took £3m each between December 12 and 24 with record customer numbers.

Most significant was the increase in sales of non-food products, with sales of DVD films four times higher than last Christmas.

Richard Baker, Asda's trading director, said: "At Asda we offer the widest choice at the lowest prices with the friendliest service of any UK supermarket, so it's no surprise that once again Asda was everyone's Christmas cracker this year."

Waitrose said the key sellers in its 136 stores included lemons, clementines, oranges, seedless grapes, parsnips and sprouts. Other strong sales came from luxury crackers, Champagne and mince pies.