THE owner of a popular music shop has enjoyed a hugely successful year as vinyl record sales throughout the UK in 2016 jumped to their highest level in 25 years.

In what will be music to traditionalists’ ears, more than 3.2 million LPs were sold last year, a rise of 53 per cent on 2015 and the highest annual total since 1991, when Simply Red’s Stars was the best-selling album.

RPM Records, in Devizes Road, has only been in business since July, and owner Gregg Miszkowski is thrilled that he managed to open the store at just the right time.

He said: “We have definitely felt the positive effects of vinyl’s increase in popularity. The revival has really stepped up a gear and is making a big impact on the music industry.

“It's a quality product and something you take time to play and listen to. It’s appreciating music in a different way. It’s really no surprise that they have made such a huge comeback.”

This Christmas saw a huge increase in sales in Gregg’s shop, and he is having to do a major re-stock after records flew from the shelves.

“It has been a very busy Christmas period,” he said.

“We knew it would be, but we didn’t anticipate just how busy it would be for us. I’m sure the popularity of vinyl will continue.”

It marks the ninth consecutive year that vinyl sales have grown, a far cry from the meagre 200,000 LPs sold in 2007.

While still niche products, LPs now account for nearly 5 per cent of the albums market, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of BPI and the Brit Awards, said: “Growth in UK music consumption in 2016 was fuelled by the explosive rise in audio streaming, which has increased 500 per cent since 2013, and relative resilience from physical formats.

“Led by sales of David Bowie, demand for vinyl jumped to levels not seen since the start of the Nineties.

“We believe this performance is indicative of the promise of a new era for music, where recorded music’s investments in a digital future fuel benefits for fans, artists and the entire music ecosystem.”