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Mothercare has reported higher sales, while revealing that the integration of the Early Learning Centre with its existing operations is "on track".

In a trading update today the baby equipment retailer said that its like-for-like sales climbed by 3.4 per cent for the 13 weeks to October 13th.

Like-for-like sales across the Mothercare business were up by 3.9 per cent over the period, while Early Learning Centre sales grew by 1.9 per cent.

Mothercare completed the acquisition of the Early Learning Centre in June and reports that there has been a "rapid integration" of the two businesses.

"Although it is still early days, we are pleased with the progress we have made to date with the integration of the Mothercare and Early Learning Centre businesses," said Mothercare chief executive Ben Gordon.

"We have already opened 21 Early Learning Centre inserts within Mothercare stores in advance of Christmas, a trading period of increased importance for the enlarged Mothercare group," he added.

Mothercare also says that its international operations are "growing rapidly", with the group having opened 29 new Mothercare stores and 16 additional Early Learning Centre stores overseas during the first half.

Shops were opened for the first time in Armenia, Belarus, Egypt, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and the Philippines, with the Mothercare group now boasting 462 overseas franchise stores across 45 countries.

Mothercare's international sales increased by 40.3 per cent over the second quarter, or by 20.3 per cent if Early Learning Centre sales for the corresponding period of the previous year are included for comparative purposes.

The company also revealed that its UK gross margin benefited from a new sourcing strategy announced in May, which included the opening of a new sourcing office in China to complement recently opened offices in India.

Mothercare will report its first-half interim results on November 22nd.