WH SMITH grew sales at its travel-based stores amid a surge in air passengers while its high street network saw a decline due to a tough books market, half-year results showed.

Pre-tax profits across the group for the six months to the end of February were up four per cent to £72 million despite a two per cent fall in like-for-like sales.

Sales grew by three per cent across more than 700 travel units operating at airports, railway stations and motorway services as well as hospitals.