Blacks Leisure has reported a rebound in sales, as camping enthusiasts return after last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

The company said sales at its Outdoor division were 44% higher in the 11 weeks to 18 May, and 22% higher when comparing stores open at least 12 months.

But the impact of the foot-and-mouth outbreak over the past year was shown in Blacks' latest profit figures.

Pre-tax profits slumped to �10.2m for the 12 months to 28 February, compared to �19.8m in the previous year.

The profit figure was not helped by a poor performance from the First Sport business, which Blacks sold to rival JD Sports earlier this month for �53.2m.

"This disposal has significantly improved the group's prospects for future growth and success," said chairman David Bernstein.

The company said it would now be concentrating on converting the 47 Famous Army stores it bought in February into either Blacks or Millets outlets.