Kingfisher hoping to see the feelgood factor

However, it hopes that the recent heatwave can help it make up lost ground, particularly as Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics improve the public mood.

Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire said: “It’s a pretty challenging start to the year but it is a long way to go.

“This is our smallest quarter and we’ve got a good set up for the summer

“When the sun’s come out we’ve been happy with the reaction so if we can combine a bit of sunshine, a positive Jubilee and lots of golds at the Olympics, we might have a slightly different feelgood factor,” he said.

Bicycles to car parts retailer Halfords blamed the wettest April on record and a soggy start to May for dampening sales in its new financial year, after it reported a 27 per cent drop in profits for the year to March 31.

Poor weather has hit sales in the retail industry in recent weeks, exacerbating an already tough situation as shoppers struggle with rising prices, muted wages growth and Government austerity measures.

Halfords said retail sales have been very disappointing so far this year.

The company said that although it had not seen the usual seasonal demand for cycling and outdoor leisure products, some of those sales were deferred rather than cancelled and it expects a stronger performance as the year progresses.

Kingfisher said its retail profits fell 8.6 per cent to £160m in the three months to April 30.

Sales of barbecues at B&Q plunged 57 per cent and hosepipes dropped 45 per cent as a UK ban on their use following an unusually dry winter saw people turn to water butts instead.

The firm, which also owns the Screwfix and Brico Depot brands, also faced tough comparisons after buoyant trading last year when sales were boosted by fine spring weather and the Royal Wedding.

The company said it had so far sold 100,000 metres of Union Jack bunting, more than 3,000 Royal Queen and Royal King garden gnomes and over 10,000 Diamond Jubilee cushions ahead of this weekend’s festivities across Britain.