MORRISONS supermarket chain has reported a record-breaking year for sales.

Customers stocking up on last-minute festive groceries at the Blackburn and Nelson stores helped boost till takings to an all time high, beating last year's figures by 16.7 per cent.

In the five week Christmas and New Year period ending January 7, sales rose 5.5 per cent on the previous year.

Morrisons was the only supermarket to close its doors on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the following Wednesday, plus New Year's day, providing employees with a break to enjoy the festive period.

Morrisons spokesman Gillian Hall said: "This year we had a full week's trading in the run-up to Christmas so there were seven days on the run when we were open. Closing for those four days didn't have a negative effect at all, as the sales figures show."

Morrisons chairman Sir Keith Morrison, the son of the founder William Morrison, said: "Our staff worked long and hard, earning a much deserved extra day off at Christmas. They returned refreshed to ensure that our customers were well served from fully replenished shelves with the freshest foods available."

A full financial statement with an analysis of the year's profits for Morrison's 110 stores will be released in March.