Magazine and media group Emap, which owns TFM and Metro radio stations, announced yesterday that profits had gone up 23 per cent.

The company, which is most famous for the so-called "lad-mag" FHM and gossip publication Heat, hailed the performance of its consumer titles for the dramatic upturn in business.

The improvement in half-year figures comes as the company looks to restore stability after suffering huge losses last year on the sale of a US operation.

It now expects the second-half showing to match the opening six months after seeing third quarter trading continue the current trend.

Several key titles have underpinned the robust performance in UK consumer magazine advertising and copy sales.

Heat achieved its third consecutive triple figure year-on-year circulation increase to take sales to 478,924. FHM recovered ground, up two per cent at 580,748, while New Woman hit a high of 303,400, up four per cent.

At the bottom-line level, half-year pre-tax profits were £61m compared with the losses of £100m a year earlier. Group operating profits rose 23 per cent to £95m.

Chief executive Robin Miller said: "We have made considerable progress in the past 18 months."