Investment firm Gatemore Capital Management said it is supportive of Julian Dunkerton's vision for Superdry after buying a stake in the fashion retailer.

Mr Dunkerton, who co-founded Superdry in Cheltenham, returned as chief executive last year after major changes in the boardroom.

And after taking a three per cent stake, Gatemore backed his plans to transform the company, including taking control of branded franchise stores in China.

Managing partner Liad Meidar said: "Superdry has shown strong resilience despite a challenging trading environment in recent months and we are confident the business is poised to benefit from the trend towards casual wear which has been accelerated by COVID-19.

"We are fully support of Julian's vision for the company, including returning the brand to its design-led roots and Superdry's strong commitment to sustainability.

"We look forward to discussing our views further with the board, management and other shareholders over the coming months."

Superdry announced in May it will not pay a dividend for this financial year after the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sales.