Car accessories and cycle retailer Halfords today looked on course for strong half-year results after sales raced ahead over the last six months.

The group, which floated on the London Stock Exchange in June, said total sales rose 13% in the 25 weeks to September 24, although it added that margins had been slightly weaker than a year earlier.

On a like-for-like basis, the sales figure was 11% stronger and should lead to Halfords reporting total half-year sales of £286.3 million.

However, it said strong comparisons with the same period a year earlier were likely to affect the second half of the financial year. The company is due to announce maiden interim figures on November 25.

Halfords increased turnover by 10% to £578.6 million in the last financial year, helping operating profits before goodwill and one-off costs to increase by 56% to £79.2 million.

The group is the UK's leading retailer by turnover in the sale of car maintenance products, car accessories, cycling products and travel goods. It has 387 stores and employs 9,000 staff, of which about 6,000 work full-time.