EXCELLENT sales at Swindon's Regent Street branch of Ann Summers have helped the privately owned retail chain raise its turnover 28 per cent over the past year as customers snapped up saucy lingerie and sex toys.

The group, which has 62 shops in the UK, recorded overall turnover of £85 million for the year to June 30.

Swindon branch manager Sara Frost said: "We are one of the top five performing stores in the company.

"We have a very strong customer base at this branch, with an increasing number of people returning again and again.

"There is a wide range of interest in all of our products, although marital aids attract the most interest.

"The largest part of our business is lingerie, with some really beautiful and pretty underwear being a main attraction."

The company's sales figures includes contribution from its stores, over the internet, through Ann Summers parties at people's homes and through the Knickerbox lingerie chain.

Sales from its retail stores on a like-for-like basis, which strips out new store openings, rose 28 per cent, with internet sales up 71 per cent.

The chief executive Jacqueline Gold said she expected profit figures to come in at around £9.5 million for the year, which would be more than double the previous year.

"The 2000/2001 year has been one of our best ever and is proof that the British just can't get enough sex," she said.

"Reasons for the rise include the increasing brand recognition and also changing attitudes as people are more relaxed about spicing up their sex lives."

Ms Gold said there had been a significant increase in sales of sex toys.