United Carpets has reported that like-for-like sales rose by 5.4% year-on-year in the first 21 weeks of the second half of its financial year.
However, despite this impressive rise in sales the UK's second largest chain of specialist retail and floor covering stores said the figures should be compared with caution as sales in the same period last year were affected by heavy snow.

During 2012, a decision was taken to close a significant number of stores as part of plans for the retailer to operate more efficiently in the current retail environment.

The number of stores fell from 85 to 59, of which 48 are franchised and 11 are corporate stores. In a trading statement the group said: "The core store network has responded well to the changes and is showing the benefits of the restructuring, particularly in the last few months."

United Carpets chief executive Paul Eyre said: "We have been encouraged with trading in the early part of this calendar year, which will flow through to better than expected year-end numbers. The changes we have made have transformed our business and with the economy as a whole appearing to move in the right direction, I am increasingly optimistic about the future."

United Carpets now expects its final results for the year ending March 31 to exceed market expectations.