Around 69,000 staff at department store chain John Lewis will share a record bonus pot of £181.1 million after annual profits rose 19 per cent today.The payout from the partnership, which is co-owned by its employees, is 18pc higher than last year and equivalent to more than 10 weeks' pay - or a fifth of salary - for each member of staff.

Around 69,000 staff at department store chain John Lewis will share a record bonus pot of £181.1 million after annual profits rose 19 per cent today.

The payout from the partnership, which is co-owned by its employees, is 18pc higher than last year and equivalent to more than 10 weeks' pay - or a fifth of salary - for each member of staff.

Waitrose, which has stores in Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, is owned by the partnership.

John Lewis's profits before partnership bonus and tax for the year ended January 26 were up £59.7 million to £379.8 million.

Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis Partnership, said: "The partnership has had a successful year in a challenging trading environment."

Last year staff received a windfall equivalent to around nine weeks' pay.

Overall group sales from continuing operations were up 6.3pc last year to £6.8 billion.

Waitrose, which contributed the lion's share of just under £4 billion, saw like for like sales rise by 3.6pc excluding petrol. The chain has 187 branches across the UK.

Sales at John Lewis, which has 26 department stores, including Norwich and Cambridge, and an online operation, grew 5pc on a like-for-like basis to £2.8 billion.