Pub group JD Wetherspoon says sales helped by good weather

July 12 (Reuters) - British pubs group JD Wetherspoon said comparable sales for the 11 weeks to July 9 rose 5.3 percent, "probably" helped by unusually good weather.

The owner and operator of more than 900 pubs in Britain and Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) said like-for-like sales for the 50 weeks to July 9 edged up by 3.9 percent with total sales rising 1.9 percent.

Total (LSE: 524773.L - news) sales grew at a slower rate this year when compared to a 5.5 percent rise seen for the 50 weeks to July 10, 2016.

The company reiterated that it would need like-for-like sales of about 3 to 4 percent in its next financial year to maintain profits at this year's levels. (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru. Editing by Jane Merriman)