Highlights included:

• Revenue - £682.1m, a growth of 16 per cent.
• Operating profit before amortisation - £34.4m (up 22 per cent) • Profit before tax - £32.2m • Basic earnings per share - 6.8p • Dividend per share - 2.8p  (up 16 per cent)

Chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith said:

“We have delivered a strong performance in the first half of the year. We remain confident of another successful year.”