The department store chain’s total sales fell 12.4% for the week to September 21, with it blaming warmer weather impacting “sales of new season products”.

Fashion sales during the week fell 12.3%, compared with a 1.2% rise for the same period the previous year. Beauty sales registered a 0.7% increase after price-matching a competitor’s promotion.

Electricals and home technology sales declined 11.4%, but the retailer said the ”demand for new communications technology product launches picked up over the weekend”.