The retailer - the UK's biggest seller of chocolate eggs - said total sales for the first-quarter were up 6.5% to �576.6m, with underlying sales up 1.2%.

Last year, disappointing sales of Easter eggs meant the firm had to cut prices in order to shift stock.

But this year it decided avoid a price battle with supermarkets by selling fewer eggs with higher profit margins.

"The overall sales and margin performance reflects the successful execution of the Easter trading strategy," Woolworths said.