Britain's Tesco joins rivals with Christmas sales surge

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, on Thursday followed rivals in reporting buoyant Christmas trading, as pandemic restrictions meant people splashed out on celebrations at home.

The group said UK like-for-like sales rose 8.1% in the six weeks to Jan. 9.

Tesco maintained its guidance for 2020-21 retail operating profit before exceptional items of "at least" the same level as 2019-20's, excluding the repayment of 535 million pounds ($729.3 million) of business rates relief. ($1 = 0.7336 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton)