ONLINE grocer Ocado, which provides Morrisons door-to-door deliveries, is poised to deliver the first profit in its 15 year history after reporting strong trading for the Christmas period.

It said gross sales in December jumped 14.8 per cent compared to a year ago as it grew solidly at the end of last year.

Ocado has not made a full-year pre-tax profit since it was founded in 2000 but analysts forecast it produced a surplus of around £10 million in the year to November 30.

It is due to publish annual figures next month.