THOMAS the Tank Engine was the driving force behind a good performance from the Britt Allcroft Company (BACo), the cartoon production, distribution and licensing group which announced its maiden interim results yesterday.

Pre tax profits were better than predicted in the prospectus, up 8 per cent to £950,000 from £880,000 in 1995.

Turnover dropped to £5.05 million from £5.5 million but earnings per share rose 8 per cent to 2.8p from 2.6p and there will be an interim dividend of 0.6p.