LONDON (AP) - Vodafone Group plc., the world's largest mobile telephone company, saw its full year profit more than double as strong growth in Asia helped offset declines elsewhere, the company said yesterday.

The company said net profit in the year ending March 31 was £8.65 billion ($12.5 billion) compared to £3.08 billion a year earlier, while revenue rose 8.4 percent to £44.5 billion.

Despite the solid increase in overall sales, there was a big disparity between regions.

While revenue fell 3.5 percent in Europe and 1.2 percent in Africa and central Europe, Asia Pacific Middle East income swelled 9.8 percent - India led the way with a 14.7 increase in service revenue.

In the fourth quarter, revenue was up five percent to £10.5 billion. Vodafone did not break out quarterly earnings.

Vodafone said Verizon Wireless, the US joint venture with Verizon Communications Inc. in which Vodafone has a 45 percent stake, posted a six percent increase in full-year revenue.

The company raised total dividends per share by seven percent to 8.31 pence.

Vodafone shares were down 0.3 percent in midday trading on the London Stock Exchange at 136 pence, reversing an early two percent jump.

Morten Singleton, analyst at Collins Stewart, was not impressed by Vodafone's results and said the shares were "one to avoid".