DFS founder Lord Kirkham pocketed a £46.3 million dividend last year from his furniture chain.

The payout was revealed in accounts filed at Companies House, which showed the retailer had increased turnover to£611 million in the year to July 28, 2007, up from£575 million the previous year.

Pre-tax profits fell from£19.6 million to£15.7 million for the year and operating profit remained flat at£57.1 million.

In the accounts, Kirkham said: “DFS has once again achieved satisfactory results in what has remained a highly competitive trading environment.”

DFS has 77 stores across the UK. Kirkham bought out his fellow shareholders to take the company private in 2004.

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