A fall in profit at Admiral’s Confused.com price comparison website because of a rival’s meerkat-led television advertisements, did not stop the FTSE 100 car insurer from reporting bumper first-half group profits.

Pre-tax profits rose 5 per cent to £105.3m compared with £100.3m last time. This was in spite of higher claims, increased advertising costs and a 36 per cent drop in investment income, Admiral said.