Sales at womenswear value fashion retailer Bonmarche have risen 11.8 per cent for the 52 weeks ended 29 March 2014.

The retailer, which sells fashion to the over-50‘s, said it was pleased with its performance.

Online sales surged 84.2 per cent while store sales rose 10.4 per cent.

Bonmarche and its owner, Peacocks went into administration in January 2012 under huge debts. Since then, it has trimmed its UK stores from nearly 400 to 265 and recently floated 40 per cent of its shares in the stock market. Bonmarche stores are now more strategically placed and can be found in garden centres, cruise ships and care homes as well as the high street.

The figures contrast with rival Marks and Spencer who posted another fall in general merchandise sales although the company said fashion sales grew.

Beth Butterwick, Chief Executive Officer of Bonmarché, said: “I am delighted with our performance, particularly with this being our first year end as a listed company. The growth driven though product, stores and multi-channel initiatives, demonstrates our customers‘ positive reaction to our strategy.”