Emma Watson casts a spell over Burberry sales

Fashion house Burberry today said Harry Potter star Emma Watson had worked her magic on sales after appearing in advertisements.

It smashed City forecasts for the final three months of last year with sales up 12 per cent to £380 million. Trench coats and handbags were particular favourites after Watson's campaign and Burberry has kept her for a second season.

Chief financial officer Stacey Cartwright said: "We have had a brilliant quarter: picking Emma for the campaign was a great decision."

She said sales in the capital are still soaring because of tourism. "There's hardly any winter stock left in the shops — we've had to bring in Spring merchandise earlier than last year."

Burberry's shares rose 26p to 625½p as it said profits for the year to the end of March would be at the high end of City forecasts. Analysts are expecting pre-tax profits of £188 million.