DEPARTMENT store Harvey Nichols, the favoured haunt of the royal, rich, famous and fashionable, kept ahead of the competition yesterday with an impressive set of results for its first half year on the stock market.

The group announced pre-tax profits 35 per cent higher at £5.5 million sterling than the £4.1 million seen at the same stage last year.

Improved turnover and gross margins provided the main boosts for the company after its well-received market debut in April.