A customer services employee from Screwfix in Folkestone was recently sentenced to two years in a Young Offenders' Institution after it was discovered he had stashed two guns in a shed at the store.

In a bid to gauge the level of customer service offered by hardware shops across its corporate membership, Home Hardware recently carried out a mystery shopper campaign.

Wesfarmers, Australian parent company to Homebase (soon to be known as Bunnings) has released its results for the first trading quarter, with sales at the former HRG retailer in line with expectations at £320m.

The managing director of Doveleys Garden Centre near Uttoxeter has confirmed that the branch will be closing down before the end of the year, and is now looking to sell off £985,000 worth of stock.

The Rainy Day Trust (RDT) has announced a 12-month partnership with Shelter to provide high quality, specialist advice to beneficiaries from the home improvement sector that have a housing need.

B&M has announced plans to open its second Hartlepool branch by moving into premises recently vacated by BHS.

B&Q in Jersey has reportedly had its application to open nine Sundays a year turned down by the planning department.

Carpetright Plc has released its half yearly results, with like-for-likes down 2.9% for the 25 weeks ending October 22.

Newly re-launched BHS has announced plans to grow its international business.

Homewares and fashion retailer Laura Ashley has confirmed it will be closing all of its Homebase concessions with the next year.

The market for bi-folding doors is expected to grow 7% per annum, despite Brexit fears, says AMA Research.

Devon-based retailer and supplier Axminster Tools & Machinery has made the 'On the Tools' shortlist for Power Tool Supplier of the Year - but needs votes to become the winner.

Members of parliament have approved, without a vote, a call for former BHS owner Sir Philip Green to be stripped of his knighthood.

Department store Leekes has reported a significant rise in sales and profits for the first half of the 2016/17 financial year.

IKEA in Reading has its doors firmly closed today after the death of a contract worker in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The man was reportedly crushed by a hydraulic lift in the loading bay of the store at around 2.30am.

Police in Northampton are searching for a man who attempted to steal a venetian blind from Dunelm Mill by concealing it down one trouser leg and up the back of his jacket.

Travis Perkins Plc, parent company to Wickes and Toolstation, has released its figures for the third quarter of 2016, with total sales growth of 3.4% and like-for-like increases of 2%.

Newly launched BHS.com has introduced kitchen and dining wares to its range, and says it has had great customer response since its debut at the end of September.

A to Z DIY and Plumbing of Fartown, Huddersfield, has reportedly ignored a ruling by its local planning inspectorate to close down.

Wickes is celebrating is new-look store complete with brand new kitchen and bathroom design centres in Taunton.

Retail spend rose 1.3% in September, but footfall and shop prices declined on a year-on-year basis according to the latest report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and retail analysts Springboard.

The chief executive officer of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, has made the following statement in reaction to the "inflationary pressure in the supply chain" as a result of the pound's devaluation.

Just over a third (35%) of homeowners regret the results of a DIY project they've taken on themselves and wish they had called in a professional, according to home services marketplace Plentific.com.

Reality TV star Dan Osborne, best known for his appearances on The Only Way is Essex, will be testing his DIY skills against B&Q employees to celebrate the refurbishment of the B&Q Leyton store.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's, who completed its purchase of Argos earlier this year, has announced plans to accelerate the roll-out of Argos across its 600 existing supermarkets and 773 convenience stores.

A man who was recently convicted of stealing £828 word of goods from B&Q in Chard, Somerset, maintained his innocence even during sentencing, despite being caught on CCTV.

Around 200 staff at BHS' head office received more than £2m in total as the retailer went into liquidation, according to new findings by the BBC's Panorama.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on government negotiators to put consumers first by ensuring shop prices are kept low in the aftermath of the UK leaving the European Union.

The Mica co-operative of independent retailers recently celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Mica Exchange weekend in Jersey.

BHS.com, which launched on September 29, has announced the launch of its first of two Christmas ranges.

DIYWeek.net has had a face-lift, and so has our weekly newsletter - with the biggest change being that both are now completely tablet and smartphone-friendly.

Hardware co-operative group Mica held its 2016 Member and Supplier Awards during its 20th anniversary weekend recently, with winners recognised for excellence across the supply and retail categories.

Homewares retailer Dunelm Mill  has reported a year-on-year loss of -7.3% with like-for-likes down by 3.8% for the 13 weeks ending October 1.

The British Independent Retailers Association’s (bira) new website, which launched this week, is designed to make life easier for independent shop owners. 

Customers at garden centres across the country made good use of their gardens during the warmer weather with the latest results from the GCA's barometer of trade showing strong sales.

Topps Tills has released its pre-close trading update for the 52 weeks ending October 1, with like-for-likes showing a projected 4.2% increase overall.

Wiltshire police have released CCTV images of a man and a woman who they'd like to speak to in relation to a theft from Rodbourne DIY shop Ron's Stores.

The British Independent Retailers Association (bira) has revealed its thoughts on the new Rating List and what it will mean for independent retailers in the UK.

Delegates numbering 250 from the DIY, garden and housewares sectors as well as media members are set to attend the BHETA Networking Forum on November 3, where lead speaker will be Bunnings UK and Ireland managing director PJ Davis.