Chocolate retailer Thornton's reassured shareholders its recovery was on track as it moved towards the crucial festive season.

Updating investors at its annual general meeting, chairman John Thornton said sales were continuing to grow.

He said: "At the time of publishing the annual general report in early September, own shop like-for-like sales were above last year in each of the first nine weeks and by 6.8 per cent in total.

"The trend has continued and all other areas are, overall, in line with expectations."