Marks and Spencer Christmas sales boosted by food

Marks and Spencer has reported a modest rise in UK sales over the Christmas period, after strong food sales offset weaker trading elsewhere at the firm.

Like-for-like sales for the final 13 weeks of 2011 were up 0.5% on a year earlier. Food sales were up 3%.

The company said margins would be lower this year due to promotions.

Separately, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said December retail sales in the UK rose by 2.2% after a "dazzling" final week before Christmas.

'Cautious' outlook
M&S said it had performed well in a "challenging trading environment".

Although like-for-like food sales, which strip out the impact of any new store openings, at M&S were up, general merchandise sales fell by 1.8%.