ETHICAL beauty chain The Body Shop is considering whether to respond to takeover interest from a host of potential buyers.

The company, which was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976, has received a number of "unsolicited expressions of interest".

But it added that it had not yet entered discussions and was still considering whether to follow up these approaches.

The statement to the London Stock Exchange comes amid speculation that Ms Roddick was close to selling her stake in the beauty chain.

One report said a board meeting had been called this week to discuss such a move.

Ms Roddick and husband, Gordon, own a 25 per cent stake in The Body Shop, a holding valued at nearly £37m at the start of trading yesterday.

In June, The Body Shop said preliminary takeover discussions with Mexican firm Omnilife had been terminated.

Money raised from any sale could be used for a good cause as Ms Roddick has said in the past she planned to give the sum to charity if she sold up.

A sale would also follow moves made over the past few years which have reduced Ms Roddick's influence over the firm.

She has relinquished control of the company, stepping down as chief executive and moving into the joint position she currently occupies with her husband as chairman.

The company added that half-year pre-tax profits would be down to £3m from £7.9m after previously reported problems with product development.

It said like-for-like sales were set to be two per cent down on the same period a year earlier, with total sales ahead by one per cent.

Full-year profits before exceptional items are likely to be broadly in line with last year, the company added.

Shares were up eight per cent to 78p following the announcement.