MARKS & Spencer's Per Una clothing range has helped its Worcester store buck the national trend.

The High Street chain released its quarterly figures this week, which showed a disappointing sales performance. Like-for-like sales had remained little changed on a year earlier.

But Paul Sanders, manager of the Worcester store, which is split between two locations in the High Street, said the store continued to trade very strongly.

In particular, women's wear had done well, buoyed by the company's new Per Una range, and also homewares.

This is in direct contrast to national figures that showed homewares had eased by 1.7 per cent.

"Our performance continues to be stronger than average," said Mr Sanders.

"All areas are above last year - ladies', men's and children's wear.

"There has been a significant increase in our home wares business - it's grown a lot. We have a far better range than in previous years."

Modernisation

Mr Sanders said the company had spent £750,000 in June last year modernising both stores.

"This has impacted on the home wares area in particular - it has really paid off."

He said ladies' wear was also very strong.

"This is due mainly to the ranges suiting our customers particularly well.

"The Per Una range has been spectacular - really, really strong."

Children's wear had also "really turned itself around", with sales growth from April to September outstripping last year.

Food sales had also done well in the Faithful City, in line with national figures that showed a 1.6 per cent rise.

The Worcester store is also doing well in terms of applications for the company's new credit card, &more, which has come under fire from the Office of Fair Trading.

The OFT ruled it was illegal for Mark & Spencer to automatically transfer existing store card holders over to the new card, which is a combined loyalty and credit card usable elsewhere.

Customers must now make a telephone call to activate the new card, launched on Monday.

But Mr Sanders said no one in his store had made any complaints and the store was leading the field in the West Midlands for new applications.

"In terms of attracting new credit card customers, the Worcester store is the best in the West Midlands."