A YORK-based retailer has seen its total sales rise by nine per cent to £120.3million.

Gear4Music, which is the largest UK-based online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment, has announced its year-end trading update, covering the 12 months to March 31, 2020.

Despite operational challenges caused by to the current Covid-19 crisis, the company has seen high demand for its products as increasing numbers of people are turning to music during the lockdown.

Final results will be announced on June 23, 2020.

Gear4music's chief executive officer, Andrew Wass, said: "I am very pleased to report that we have achieved our primary FY20 objectives of improving our operational strength and driving efficiencies in order to restore gross margins, resulting in record profits for the Group.

"FY21 has begun with operational challenges relating to COVID-19, and our focus has been on protecting the health and safety of our employees, whilst ensuring service levels are maintained for our customers.

"I am extremely grateful for the extraordinary hard work and commitment our teams have demonstrated, which has allowed us to successfully satisfy the high demand we have encountered since late March, as an increasing number of people recognise the benefits that playing musical instruments can bring during these difficult times.

"We remain confident that our business is appropriately configured to achieve long term profitable growth, and that we are in a strong position to build upon the excellent progress we have made during FY20."

Gear4Music's head office is in Holgate Business Park, York, with distribution centres and showrooms in York, Sweden and Germany.

The company sells own-brand musical instruments and music equipment alongside premium third-party brands including Fender, Yamaha and Roland, in the UK and internationally.

Gear4Music advertised for 100 new jobs last summer for its warehouse site in Clifton Moor to help cover increased demand over the festive period.

The roles on offer were both full-time and part-time, with short-term contracts.