Consumers bought fewer power tools last year - but when they did, they spent more. 

Insolvency specialists McTear Williams & Wood confirm there were dozens of parties interested in buying the DIY businesses but that the deal with director Barry Godfrey preserved the value in the stores and has meant former staff have received payment more quickly. 

The authorities have issued a warning about a battery charger that poses a risk of fire. 

Following news that Kingfisher group chief operating officer Euan Sutherland is to leave the business, Kingfisher has announced that Mr Sutherland's main responsibilities will be assumed by two members of the senior management team. 

The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association is inviting members and non-members to attend a course this month to learn how to negotiate effectively within their professional role. 

Dedicated DIY trade shows Totally DIY and Totally Tools will mark a new stage in their history as they prepare to open at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry for the first time this Sunday. 

Stricken Liverpool department store Rapid Hardware has been delivered another blow, with its administrators unexpectedly closing the store. 

Md Barry Godfrey buys DIY businesses in Diss and Stowmarket from liquidators under his new company Harvey House Retail.
 

A dangerous battery-powered pocket lamp has been withdrawn from the market and recalled. 

January delivered a much-needed fillip for retailers, with the biggest like-for-like growth in retail sales for over a year. 

Home Hardware says it has achieved another record-breaking print run as it launches its latest spring promotional brochure. 

Rapid Hardware, the huge DIY and homewares department store in Liverpool, is appealing for a "white knight" investor after it collapsed into administration yesterday. 

Silver winner in the DIY Week awards garden accessories category Hall's Rainsaver had been selected as a finalist in a Local Business Accelerators programme. 

Gardening celebrity Alan Titchmarsh is no longer working for B&Q following the end of his three year multi-million pound contract at the beginning of this year. 

The Garden Centre Group has teamed up with Westminster Kingsway College to develop a new apprenticeship programme focussing on professional cookery in garden centre restarants. 

More than 300 delegates attended the three-day Garden Centre Association annual conference, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire, this week. 

DIY and hardware independents' sales slipped in the last quarter of 2012 when compared to 2011 - but they were among the better performers in a generally gloomy picture. 

Grosvenor Garden Centre saw sales decline by 4% from £6.53m to £6.24m in the year to April 1 2012, according to new accounts filed at Companies House. But the company also achieved a rise in gross margin in the period - its final year of trading as an independent business before being bought by Blue Diamond. 

Panto horse costumes, welly tossing and dancing to the Black Eyed Peas were the order of the day for participants in the GCA Olympics - the traditional opening event of the annual GCA conference. 

Topps Tiles grew its sales and profits in the year to September 29 2012. But DIY Week analysis of the accounts filed recently at Companies House shows that stockturn declined, and operating margin is still well below the level achieved two years ago.