The weather has been very, very autumn-like which is good for us

Carl-Henric Enhorning, H&M

The Swedish fashion retailer said that a spell of cold weather had helped to boost demand for its clothes.

Like most fashion stores, H&M suffered in September because the unusually warm weather in Europe meant that people were not buying autumn clothes.

The company's head of investor relations, Carl-Henric Enhorning, told BBC News Online that after saving money in September, customers had spent heavily in October.

"The weather has been very, very autumn-like which is good for us."

Opening up in Poland

H&M said it had achieved its best sales in Spain, France, Britain and the Benelux countries.

A Swedish fund manager told Reuters: "An increase of 26% is absolutely fantastic.

"It's like a software company. Companies like this are rare."

H&M also announced plans to move into other parts of Europe.

It said it had signed leases for its first stores in Poland and the Czech Republic, which should open next spring.

The fashion retailer is also considering moving into Hungary and Canada as well as expanding in the United States.