B&Q is set to expand into city centres with smaller-format stores after successful pilots run by parent company Kingfisher overseas.
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire told the Reuters Consumer and Retail Summit on Monday that the company hopes to bring the concept to the UK within 18 months, after successful trials in France and Russia.

He said the stores would be about 35,000-40,000sq ft in size, which is smaller than B&Q's current mini format, and would have a greater focus on housewares products.

"There's 60 catchments where there isn't a B&Q within 20 minutes' drive time where you have got more than 40,000 people," he said, adding that these were mostly in densely populated areas such as London or market towns.

The new stores will step up B&Q's challenge to rivals Focus and Homebase, which is strong around London.

Mr Cheshire also said he was optimistic the global economy was improving, but added that he saw little prospect for growth in the DIY market and "wouldn't be at all surprised to see slightly minus markets for the next two years" in the UK.