Supermarket giant Morrisons today announced a healthy jump in sales and profits and declared: 'Scotland here we come.'

The Bradford-based store group saw its turnover increase by 9.4 per cent to £4.3 billion for the full year ending on February 2.

And its pre-tax profits were up a healthy 13.8 per cent to £276.6 million on the previous year.

But Sir Ken Morrison, chairman of the group, said he was not resting on his laurels and wanted to expand even further - with the first stores opening in Scotland as part of 15 new shops across the UK creating 4,500 jobs this year and into next.

"We have an extensive store opening programme showing that ample expansion opportunities still exist and we are more than capable of spotting, capturing and executing them," Sir Ken said.

"Our brand travels well and with shoppers everywhere looking for real quality and value, we are well equipped to win over new territory."

And as shareholders enjoyed a rise in their holdings, up 2.25p to 169p in early trading, chief executive Bob Stott said the figures for the first few weeks of the year were showing further strong rises.

And Mr Stott said the employees were set to share in the good results.

"Our profit share is increasing in line with our results. There is a £14.2 million lump of cash to be shared among staff up from £12.5 million last year - which is a nice increase and that should equate to about two weeks wages on average."

The company also saw its store takings jump 9.5 per cent to a whopping £4.6 billion. And like-for-like takings were up 5.3 per cent which Mr Stott showed the business was in a very strong position to continue to grow.

"In the first five weeks of the new year we have recorded a sales increase of 13 per cent and 7.6per cent of that is like-for-like sales.

The Morrisons customer now spends on average £23.28 on each visit to the store, up 71p on last year.

The management team insists the company is not distracted by its bid for Safeway - one of many embroiled in trying to buy it out, but still the only one to have formally tabled an offer.

"We have achieved good results. Despite the distraction of the Safeway takeover we have stuck to our job," Sir Ken said.

And Mr Stott said the firm was ideally placed to continue its expansion.