Norwich Union owner Aviva today said a gradual pick-up in consumer confidence helped UK sales of its life and pension products return to growth in 2004.

The group said a drive to make pensions less complicated and a recovery in the stock market ensured sales at Norwich Union rose 5 per cent to £1.12bn, reversing the 13 per cent fall of 2003.

Its world-wide performance based on annual premium equivalent sales was slightly ahead of expectations, up 9 per cent.