FASHION retailer New Look saw profits double and sales surge 25 per cent over the past year, helped by revitalising its ranges and revamping its stores.

This time last year the group reported a slump in profits and sales on a downwards slide.

At the time it pledged to improve its ranges and supply chain, and focus away from its small-store formats towards larger shops.

Today, shares rose three per cent as the firm showed pre-tax profits for the 53 weeks to March 30 had increased 103.6 per cent to a record £62.3 million, while turnover rose 24.6 per cent to £585.4 million.

The impressive figures were helped after the firm revitalised its ranges and revamped its stores.

Chief executive Stephen Sunnucks, who joined two years ago, said the last year had been a "transforming year" for New Look.

"We are delighted with the last year," he said.

He said the group had been closing smaller shops and reopening larger ones in their place, while refurbishing the small stores it is keeping, with new exteriors and layouts.

New Look, which has 487 shops in total, said larger stores gave it more scope for sales growth.

To improve its supply chain the group opened a new distribution centre in Doncaster in September, to add to the one in Weymouth.

Mr Sunnucks added: "We have been working hard at broadening the appeal of our product, to appeal to over 25-year-old customers as well as younger customers."

Previously, the group's clothes had appealed largely to the teenage market.

Mr Sunnucks said the shops now had more suits and coats, as well as a new range for dress size 16-24.

Sales were also helped by Britain's buoyant high street, where shoppers, encouraged by low interest rates, have been splashing out.

New Look's results are also flattered by having an extra week trading compared with last year, which was the important pre-Easter week which added £4.6 million to profits and a dividend of 7p will be paid, up 14.8 per cent on last year.