The home and DIY giant recorded a 3.5% drop in total sales at B&Q to £820m, down 3.4% on a like-for-like basis in the quarter to October 31.

Group sales across the UK and Ireland rose 0.3% year on year to £1.3bn, driven by a 7.9% increase in sales at Screwfix to £477m, up 3.7% on a like-for-like basis.