Retailer Marks and Spencer's four Irish stores performed strongly but the group's core clothing business in the UK showed a further drop in sales, according to a trading statement released yesterday.

However, shares rose 1.4 percent on news its margins had risen since it replaced domestic suppliers in favour of cheaper, foreign manufacturers.

All four Irish stores continued to perform strongly with significant growth in a number of areas during the first three months of the trading year, the company said.

Sales in childrenswear, food, beauty and homeware were especially buoyant and coffee shops in the Mary Street and Merchant's Quay stores had been successful.

"The strong performance reflects the innovations in these areas and with further investment in innovations due in all stores over the coming year we are confident the business will continue to grow," M&S said.

Overall M&S Group said total like-for-like sales fell 3.4 percent in the 14 weeks to July 7th, while clothing, footwear and gifts were down 9.1 percent. Analysts said the figures pointed to an even steeper drop in womenswear, the heart of M&S's business.