LUXURY accessories firm Mulberry yesterday reported a dramatic turnaround in early summer sales in a sign consumers are becoming more willing to splash out on classic items.

Mulberry, famous for its high-end handbags costing up to £1,900, said like-for-like sales soared 21 per cent in the first ten weeks of its new financial year.

The performance is a marked improvement on a difficult Christmas period when it saw sales slump by 12 per cent.