SUPERMARKET Waitrose says sales have increased as it prepares for a bumper festive period.

The chain, which has stores in York, Newcastle's Eldon Square, and Hexham, Northumberland, has revealed its trading figures for the week to November 30.

It said sales, excluding petrol, were up 4.9 per cent last week compared to a year ago, with online sales increasing by 34 per cent.

Bosses also revealed Christmas meat orders were 16 per cent ahead of last year, with seasonal meats, such as ham and gammon, seeing orders rise by 133 per cent.

Earlier this year, development bosses in Darlington said a Waitrose supermarket could be part of a £25m project to redevelop an area in the town's Northgate area.

Waitrose has revealed plans to triple in size and aims to open 200 stores in the next decade.