John Menzies, the Scottish company best known for newspaper distribution, saw half-year profits almost treble.

It made £20.6m, up from £7.4m for the same period last year.

The company also distributes cargo worldwide, and profits doubled in this area, despite disruption from the Icelandic ash cloud earlier this year.

John Menzies started in Scotland in 1833 but is now a "time-critical logistics company" - a business that moves goods to a timetable.

The company said profits at its Menzies Aviation division, which moves cargo around airports in 27 countries, were boosted by contract gains, in particular with Lufthansa/bmi at London Heathrow.

Menzies said distribution remained a difficult market, but it had been helped by the sale of stickers for the 2010 World Cup.

The group, which used to compete with WH Smith, withdrew from the High Street in 1998.