Shares in JD Wetherspoon were up on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the pub chain owner reported a rise in sales in the 12 weeks to 16 January.

Like for like sales were reported as rising three per cent in the period, while total sales increased 8.1 per cent.

While Wetherspoon conceded that the strong snow had a "strongly adverse effect on sales", the group said that like for like sales were barely impacted by the December snow, as the effect was offset by similar weather at the beginning of January last year.

In the last 25 weeks JD Wetherspoon opened 12 new pubs and closed two. In addition the company said it intended to open a further 50 pubs in the second half of the year.

In an outlook statement JD Wetherspoon said, "Sales, profit and cashflow continue to be resilient and the performance of our recently opened pubs remains encouraging. As previously stated, higher interest charges, following the refinancing in March 2010, will adversely affect profits in the first half of the financial year. In addition, there are clear indications of increases in the cost of supplies across a wide range of goods, including food and bar purchases, as well as utilities and excise duties. In spite of these affects of a harsher economic climate, the Company is confident of a reasonable outcome for the year as a whole, helped by investments in new and existing pubs."

By 09:35 shares in JD Wetherspoon were up 6.09 per cent on the FTSE 250 to 468.60 pence per share.

FTSE