Rent-to-buy electricals and furniture specialist BrightHouse has revealed underlying revenue increased 13.5 per cent in the 13 weeks to December 28.

Revenue climbed 18.7 per cent to£41.7m in the period.

BrightHouse said business is booming in the recession. Its customers are typically poor and have no credit. At least 40 per cent of its shoppers depend on benefits.

Chief executive Leo McKee said: “What’s happening is that people who are newly into that condition are attracted by the BrightHouse proposition.”

Furniture sold particularly well in the period, with sales up 35 per cent year on year, while other furniture retailers collapsed, such as Land of Leather, which fell into administration last week.

BrightHouse reduced the price of its electricals goods ahead of Christmas in order to compete with its rivals, which it said affected margin.

McKee said BrightHouse is on target to meet its full-year profit expectations.

Customers pay on average£23 a week in cash for three or four items.

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