Halfords has revealed increased sales and profits amid a boost from stronger bike sales over the past half-year.

Bosses said the business was buoyed by a “recovery” in the cycling market, warm summer weather and “fantastic” sales of children’s bikes.

Sales in the cycling business rose by 9% for the half-year to September 26, compared with a year earlier, as a result.

It helped drive a 3.3% increase in total revenues to £893.3 million for the half-year.

Elsewhere, the group saw like-for-like motoring revenues rise by 1.1%, while its autocentres business saw like-for-like growth of 4.3%.

Meanwhile, Henry Birch, who was appointed chief executive of the company earlier this year, told the Press Association that pre-Budget speculation was “unhelpful” for consumers but that the business was

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