HIGH street fashion chain New Look showed its recovery strategy was on track as it reported a 15 per cent increase in half-year profits.

New Look launched the overhaul in June after being dogged by falling sales and profits and has already achieved savings of £5m.

The bulk of the retailer's cost-cutting came from trimming its head office workforce by ten per cent to about 400.

Finance director Alastair Miller said most of the job losses had been achieved through natural wastage at its headquarters in Weymouth, Dorset.

He said the cuts, with other cost-saving measures, such as the move to discontinue a lifestyle range of goods, had helped boost profits.

For the six months to September 22, pre-tax profits were £27.3m, up on last year's figure of £23.8m.

Turnover was also up at £276.3m, compared to £225.2m a year ago, while like-for-like sales, which exclude new stores, sparked 2.7 per cent.

Chief executive Stephen Sunnucks said there was still much to be done, but he was confident for the longterm future.