Full year figures from soft drinks company, Coca Cola, show record results for 2003.

Earnings per share rose to $1.77, compared with $1.23 the previous year, and turnover rose 8 per cent to $21bn.

Unit case sales worldwide increased 4 per cent to 19.4bn cases, led by growth of 5 per cent in international operations and 2 per cent in North America.

An increase in sales of Diet Coke and the continued expansion of both Vanilla Coke and its diet version into over 50 countries, was reflected in a 2 per cent growth in carbonated drinks sales for the year.

Following its continued expansion into the water sector and a growth in sports drinks sales, the company's non-carbonated drinks division saw sales of 3.3bn cases, up 14 per cent .