The department store and Waitrose owner said that losses for the first half of the year to 1 August were £89 million - compared to £34m last year. It blamed rising costs such as National Insurance.

The owner of John Lewis fell to a loss of more than £120m as its boss hit out at the rising "cost of doing business".

The retailer reported underlying first half losses of £89 million, up from £34 million a year earlier.