RETAIL chain Ann Summers yesterday said sales at its stores increased by 28 per cent in the past year as customers snapped up saucy lingerie and raunchy sex toys.

The group, which has a 62-strong chain of shops in the UK including in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, said it recorded overall turnover of £85 million for the year to June 30.

The sales includes contribution from its stores, over the Internet, through Ann Summers parties at people's homes and though the Knickerbox lingerie chain.

Sales from its retail stores on a like-for-like basis, which strips out new store openings, rose 28 per cent. Internet sales were up 71 per cent.

Chief executive Jacqueline Gold said she expected profit figures to come in at about £9.5m for the year, which would be more than double the previous year.

"2000/2001 has been one of our best years ever and is proof that the British people just can't get enough sex," she said.

She said one contribution to the success was a more relaxed attitude about spicing up sex lives.

Although 70 per cent of people going into the stores were women, Ms Gold said numbers of men visiting were increasing.

As Ann Summers is privately owned, it did not disclose its profit figures yesterday. Its accounts for the last year have to be recorded at Companies House by April 30, 2003