The luxury department store group Harvey Nichols has warned that the current slump in tourism may hit its full year profits.

The company gave its warning as it announced a 2.2% rise in pre-tax profits for the six months to 29 September.

Despite the profits rise, it said sales during October and November had fallen, as the firm suffered from the reluctance of people to travel following 11 September.

"Weekly sales remain erratic and if the current sales trend was to continue for the remainder of this financial year, the group will not achieve the same level of profit as last year," said Harvey Nichols' chairman Dickson Poon in a statement.

The flagship store in Knightsbridge suffered the most, offsetting strong sales at its store in Leeds.

The company added that early sales at its new store in Birmingham were encouraging.