The retail leg of Travis Perkins Plc, including Wickes and Tile Giant, revealed a like-for-like sales drop of 5.2% during the 17 weeks to April 30, but the figure was boosted to -2.6% when counting the newly-acquired Toolstation.
Overall, the group reported a revenue increase of 4.4%, boosted by strong performance in its specialist, general and plumbing and heating merchanting.

Bosses blamed the wet weather during April for negatively impacting retail sales, which brought figures down from a "good first quarter".

Travis Perkins chief executive Geoff Cooper said: "We are pleased with the good progress in the first quarter, in particular the balance between continued share gains and our achievements on gross margins."