High street chain Debenhams toasted record full-year profits, but said its sales growth had slowed in recent weeks.

Debenhams, which last year opened a new store in Banbury and spent £20m refurbishing its outlet in Oxford, reported strong sales across all its 97 stores.

That pushed pre-tax profits to £146.1m in the year to September 1, 13 per cent ahead of the previous 12 months.

Chief executive Belinda Earl said its range of exclusive and designer clothing meant the chain had taken market share from its rivals.

But while total sales in the year rose 15 per cent to £1.6bn, trading has slowed due to a fall in consumer confidence, Ms Earl said. But she added the firm was able to limit the economic repurcussions of the terrorist attacks on the US.

She said: "We are in a strong position with limited exposure to tourism and we are well spread geographically."