Department store chain Debenhams, set to become an anchor tenant in the Westfield development, put confidence in its clothing ranges and online performance to get back on track as January’s snowstorms sent profits 5.4 per cent lower.

The group saw profits drop to £120.3 million for the six months to March 2, in line with last month’s warning after its sales slumped by around ten per cent during the snow-hit start to the year.

But chief executive Michael Sharp said he was confident in the group’s spring and summer ranges and online sales, which surged by 46 per cent in the first half.