Jan 5 - British retailer John Lewis saw a 7.6 percent rise in sales at department stores open at least a year over the five weeks to Jan. 1, defying weaker performances from other store groups.

John Lewis in Bristol

The employee-owned group, which has given regular updates of its strong sales performance throughout the holiday season, said on Wednesday that total sales at its department stores rose 8.9 percent year-on-year to 545 million pounds ($848 million).

It gained market share in all categories, with electricals and home technology sales up 14.4 percent, fashion sales up 8.7 percent and home-related sales up 4.7 percent, it said.

Online sales leapt 42 percent and have reached 500 million pounds for the financial year so far, it added.

For the final week of the period, sales rose 4.6 percent year-on-year.

Earlier on Wednesday, British fashion chain Next and music, books, DVDs and games group HMV reported a drop in sales in the run-up to Christmas, blaming severe winter weather and a subdued consumer environment.

(Reporting by Mark Potter, Editing by James Davey)