LEGO FIRED UP BY GREATER DEMAND

LEGO said customers all over the world burnt a trail to its multicoloured toy bricks as it announced a surge in profits.

The privately owned Danish firm said it had built on its success by expanding factories worldwide and ‘significantly increased investments’.

This resulted in double-digit sales growth in all regions with the strongest demand seen in Asia.

Profits in the first half of the year jumped 30pc to £360m, and sales grew to £1.4bn from £1.1bn a year earlier. Chief executive Joergen Vig Knudstorp, who described the numbers as ‘highly satisfactory’, said the results were particularly encouraging as sales last year were boosted by the release of the Lego Movie ( pictured). This was the most popular animated feature film of the year.

Although best-known for its building blocks – which have long been a staple for children – Lego also has a host of popular mobile phone apps and theme parks, including Legoland in Windsor.

Lego is based in Billund, Denmark and has 15,000 employees – up from 12,500 last year.