Watford MP Richard Harrington has paid a visit to his local B&Q to watch children in action helping to save Hertfordshire's bees. 

The British Retail Consortium has reported a 2.2% like-for-like increase in UK retail sales for July, with the recent heatwave leading to mixed figures for the DIY/gardening industries. 

Home Hardware Scotland says it has enjoyed the best July on record, thanks to a huge uplift in sales of DIY and garden products. 

With value growth of 16% compared with the same month last year, the DIY and gardening sector stood out as a clear winner in the durables sector during June, according to the latest report from GfK. 

A Herefordshire DIY store has increased its selling area more than tenfold after expanding into new premises - and is now preparing to add a garden centre. 

Longacres, which claims to be the largest independent garden centre in the south-east of England, has acquired a second outlet. 

Next month's Glee exhibition is calling for entries into its New Product Showcase, hoping to find the next big thing or something with the potential to boost the profits of any garden retailer. 

Garden products supplier Greentree has been acquired by Smart Solar for an undisclosed sum, and its founder Gary Ackers has been appointed to a new role of commercial director. 

Norwich-based value retailer QD Stores has announced it will be opening an online shopping channel to complement its high street business. 

Customers and staff at Fryers Garden Centre in Knutsford had to be evacuated this week after a fire started in an electrical cupboard. 

Business has boomed at Robert Dyas following its July 2012 takeover by former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis, with operating profits up to £4.89m for the year to March 30, 2013 - an uptake of 353% since last year's £1.08m. 

West London builders merchant Lords took up a unique opportunity to impress its name on millions of potential customers when it was invited to take a prime banner site on the Lord's cricket ground for the second Ashes test match in June. 

A south London woman who works for Homebase goes to court today accused of stealing over £100,000-worth of gift vouchers from the retailer. 

Bubba Brands, whose products include the Hero bottle, has joined the British Home Enhancement Trade Association. 

"Oh I do like to be beside the seaside" is the second clue released by the GCA in its competition to guess the 2014 venue of its annual conference. 

An Irish hardware store/builders merchant has successfully defended itself against a demand to pay music royalties because its employees listened to a radio. 

Following the success of last year's event, Stanley is once again hosting its Big Hit Challenge at the upcoming British MotoGP at Silverstone. 

Germany's Max Bahr DIY chain has filed for insolvency, dashing hopes that it might be able to survive the collapse two weeks ago of parent Praktiker, the country's third-largest home improvement retailer. 

B&Q has come together with some of the UK's other leading retail names to sue Visa over excessive debit and credit card processing costs. 

Do you or any of your customers have a great DIY disaster story?