Morrisons has reported record sales over the Christmas period. The supermarket said like-for-like sales including petrol increased 10.2 per cent in the six-week period to January 4.

Analysts believes that Morrisons strong performance over the period could see them outpacing rival supermarket groups.

Morrisons said that average spend per customer was up 4.8 per cent compared with last Christmas. This led to an average increase in store takings of 9.4 per cent. Over the Christmas period, food sales rose 14.5 per cent.

The supermarket is currently the UK's fifth biggest chain, but when the acquistion of Safeway is completed it will double Morrisons market share.

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