GREGGS has hailed its new range of healthier snacks and a better coffee blend for helping to boost sales more than expected in recent months, pushing its profits for the year ahead of forecasts.

The bakery chain credited its Balanced Choice range of flatbreads and low-calorie sandwiches for a bumper summer.

Overall sales rose by four per cent, and like-for-like sales in the 11 weeks to September 13 increased by 5.4 per cent compared to a year ago.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside said the new products are selling well in Scotland and across the UK, bringing in £1 million of sales a week and "growing strongly".

He said a summer heatwave dampened last year's sales, flattering this year's growth figures. Mr Whiteside said Greggs "is unable to speculate" on whether prices would change in its 239 stores in Scotland if the country votes for independence this week.

He said: "We cannot say what will happen to prices until we know what will change in the market."

Shares in FTSE 250-listed Greggs soared 12 per cent higher to close at 602p yesterday after the unscheduled announcement that profits for 2014 are set to come in "materially ahead of our previous expectations".