However, in the builder's merchant business, like-for-like sales were up 8pc over the same period.

Jackson said the first 18 weeks of 2006-7 had shown like-for-like sales similar to the year before, which was better than in the overall entertainment market.

Truth to tell, this time round there was no real growth in like-for-like sales, once you exclude the new store space opened.

But like-for-like sales in real terms are nevertheless holding steady.

The group lost £51m in the first half as like-for-like sales fell 11.6pc.

In the five weeks to January 7, like-for-like sales were up 5.1pc, with total sales rising 10.8pc.

In the department stores, however, like-for-like sales were down 4.7%.

Across the group like-for-like sales rose 1.3pc, thanks to a relatively strong performance in France.

Over the five week period like-for-like sales in technology were up 51%.

Yesterday, the group said like-for-like sales excluding fuel rose by 2.1pc in the 14 weeks to January 7.