LONDON (ShareCast) - Babycare retailer Mothercare saw group pre-tax profit more than double at the interim stage thanks to rapid growth overseas and in the direct sales channel.

Profit before tax in the 28 weeks to 11 October rose 124.6% to £13.7m from £6.1m a year earlier, on sales that rose 9.3% to £359m from £328.5m.

The group is debt free and had net cash at the end of the reporting period of £8.4m, up from £2.3m a year earlier.

The interim dividend has been hoisted 24.3% to 4.6p from 3.7p at the interim stage in 2007.

The Early Learning Centre integration is going well and should deliver at least £10m of benefits in fiscal 09/10.

Like-for-like sales in the UK were up 0.8% while international sales were up 9% on a like-for-like basis.

“Our International business has delivered its best ever half and, despite a challenging market, we have grown like-for-like sales in the UK, with Direct performing particularly well,” said Ben Gordon, chief executive of Mothercare.

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