High street retailers are continuing to maintain strong sales results, according to BDO's High Street Sales Tracker.
Figures for the week ending 21 February show overall sales are up almost 6% on the same week last year.

Homewares sales surged at the fastest rate this year, increasing by 9.4% on a lfl comparison. Furniture sales were especially strong, while textiles also sold well.

BDO head of retail Don Williams said: "The half term holiday certainly helped to boost footfall on the high street with overall takings rising for the third week in a row."

He added: "This positive start to the year puts retailers, whether online or on the high street, in a good position to emerge in to the spring season on good form."

These latest figures follow the recent release of the CBI Distributive Trades Survey, which revealed that sales in the hardware, china and DIY sector have continued to fall in February.