Fashion chain Monsoon said it had a good Christmas, with sales up 11 per cent, but forecast tougher trading conditions to come on the High Street.

The group, which owns 277 Monsoon and Accessorize shops in the UK and Ireland, said like-for-like sales for the four weeks to December 21 rose two per cent on the same period the previous year, while in the two weeks to January 4, sales rose 11 per cent.

Chairman Peter Simon said: "It was quite a good overall figure.

"We have been doing well in evening wear, casual wear and children's wear as well as Accessorize."

He said the group had maintained its margins during the period.

He said: "I'm not that hung up on like-for-like figures but it is the profits which matter.

But Monsoon said it faced the prospect of "more challenging market conditions on the High Street".

Mr Simon said: "I think it is going to get tough in the next quarter but it comes down to the way you run your shops and way you operate."

Pre-tax profits for the six months to November 23 rose nine per cent to £17.7 million, while turnover was eight per cent higher at £107.7 million.

Mr Simon said: "These results underline our ability to increase profits under more difficult trading conditions."

The group is aiming to continue expanding its store chain, with plans to open a further 10 to 15 shops in the UK and Ireland in the next half year, and 20 to 30 international stores.

At present the group has 277 shops in the UK and Ireland and 90 stores overseas.

Shareholders will be paid an interim dividend of 1.5p, the same as this time last year. Shares in the group, however, slipped two per cent.

Monsoon also announced its finance director Andrew May would step down in six months' time after 22 years with the group.

Alex Scott, equities analyst at Seven Investment Management, said:

"It seems the last-minute rush rescued the day for many retailers."