DEMAND for the latest iPad and strong sales of TVs helped John Lewis department stores report a “fantastic” week of trading.

Sales for the seven days to last Saturday were up 27.5% on a year ago and by 25% on the equivalent Good Friday week in 2011.

Poorer weather at the end of the period also benefited the business as its 36 stores and online operation took £66.7m in total.

Electronics and home technology was the best performing division, with sales up 59% amid strong appetite for Apple’s iPad3.

Fashion sales were up by 18% on the back of a strong performance in childrenswear, while the home division improved sales by 16%.

The majority of branches hit double-digit revenue growth in the week, led by Leicester with a 42% rise and Bluewater, Kent, on 38%. Selling operations director David Barford said: “It was a great week and a fantastic start to the Easter weekend.”

In the Waitrose part of the John Lewis Partnership, sales were up 23% year-on-year and by 4.5% when compared to the week before Easter in 2011.