Body Shop International today said its UK stores recorded a "strong performance" in December.

The Littlehampton-based ethical toiletries group said products such as body butter and white musk and hemp ranges sold well.

Body Shop said in the five weeks to January 5, like-for-like sales grew 4%, while in the 10 weeks to the same date, sales rose 1%.

The rise marks a reversal in fortunes from the previous year, when a decision to scrap old favourites in favour of new lines hurt sales.

Chief executive Patrick Gournay said today: "We were pleased to see the UK return to positive comparable store sales during the Christmas period."

He said the group's seasonal products sold well, particularly body care and women's fragrance.

Margins also improved, while Body Shop's winter sale had a good start.

Finance director Alastair Murray said good sellers had been the group's food-inspired range, white musk, its vitamin E range, hemp products and body butter.

The body butter range had been reformulated, he said, adding: "Even Jennifer Lopez uses it, so I'm told."

However, when including Body Shop's international stores, overall like-for-like sales for the 10-week period were flat, hit by a 7% sales drop in the US.

Mr Gournay also said Body Shop remained in talks to be taken over.

Speculation over the identity of the potential bidders has included French venture capital firm Paribas Affaires Industrielles and US firm Texas Pacific.

Founder Anita Roddick and husband Gordon, who live near Arundel, together own about a quarter of the company.