The recent warm weather and a surge in sales through its website helped fashion retailer Next grow while many of its high street neighbours foundered in the first half of the year.
Full-price sales, which exclude discounted stock, grew 4.5pc in the 26 weeks to July 28.
This was despite a 5.3pc slump in sales through its 528 stores. Meanwhile digital sales leapt 15.5pc.
Sales growth was slower in the second quarter than in the first but still expanded faster than expected, up 2.8pc.
Chief executive Lord Wolfson said the "highest summer products", including shorts, t-shirts and swimwear, had all performed better than expected.
But he cautioned that shoppers had been held back from hitting the high street when temperatures rose above 30 degrees Celsius.
He added: “Overall it has been good for us but on the days when it has been really hot, it hasn’t been. Equally, people aren’t ordering online either, they are in the garden rather than sitting inside on their WiFi."
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Next does not expect the warm weather to significantly boost full-year results, as sales that would otherwise have been made in August have been pulled forward.
It said efforts to minimise excess stock had also been beneficial, leaving it with 20pc fewer items to shift when its July sale came around.
Next said: “Clearance rates to date are better than expected and have added approximately £4m to profit, however, this has largely been offset by higher warehouse and distribution costs.”
Overall the company still expects full-year profits to come in 1.3pc lower at £717m alongside 2.2pc growth in full-price sales.
Investors sent shares down 6pc in early trade to £55.80, as Next held back from upgrading profit expectations despite its boost from the warm weather.
The update comes at a torrid time for Britain's high streets. Several retailers including House of Fraser, Mothercare and New Look have embarked upon insolvency proceedings in recent months and others including Poundworld and Toys R Us have collapsed altogether.
According to figures compiled by The Telegraph, more than 1,000 retail shops have been earmarked for closure across the industry, putting around 20,000 jobs at risk, as some retailers struggle in the face of higher costs and the rise of online shopping.
Lord Wolfson said the distress on the high street had enabled the retailer to secure rent cuts of around 25pc on leases that have come up for renewal.
He added: "Some of them are down by nothing, others will be down by 50pc or 60pc. What I can say is that none of them are going up.”