WH Smith has reported an 8 per cent rise in half-year profits despite a fall in sales, as it continues to refocus on selling books rather than DVDs and CDs.

Reporting its results for the six months to  February, the retailer's pre-tax profit rose to £64m from £59m for the same period a year earlier. Group-wide like-for-like sales, which exclude new store openings, were down 2 per cent, or 3 per cent at its High Street shops.

The results also show a return of £90m of cash to shareholders through a special dividend and on market share buyback programme.

Commenting on the results, Kate Swann, Group chief executive said: “We have delivered another period of good profit growth, with Group profits up 8%. We have seen further strong performance from Travel with substantial progress in new business development in the hospital, air and motorway channels. In the High Street, we successfully continue to deliver our strategy to rebuild our authority in our core categories.

“The economic environment remains uncertain and, whilst we continue to be cautious, we are confident in the outcome for the full year.”