Police forces are auctioning off tools confiscated from burglars and robbers in a bid to clear their store rooms and raise some cash. 

Sales at John Lewis rose just 0.5% to £54.27m for the week to June 4, despite the Bank Holiday and exceptionally good weather, the company has reported. 

Commtel Innovate has confirmed it is to put the Smart Bell doorbell, invented by 13-year-old Laurence Rook, into full production this July. 

Defra and the Environment Agency announce that parts of the Anglian region are now officially in a state of drought, with other areas on the brink, but reassures that water supplies are high enough to cope with dry conditions. 

Fashion and homewares chain Life & Style has entered administration. 

Hempel has acquired the leading paint brand for an undisclosed sum, as part of its ambitious expansion plans to double in size and strengthen its position in the decorative coatings industry. 

DIY chain uses guerrilla marketing so that a personalised ad appears at the top of the page when users Google Matt Prior - the cricketer who broke a window at Lord's with his cricket bat. 

Sales at Argos dropped nearly 10% in Q1, but remained steady at stablemate chain Homebase, according to figures released by parent company Home Retail Group (HRG) today. 

New Zealand-based shower manufacturer Methven has announced it is to receive £329,675 plus VAT from Focus administrators, after losing NZ$2m (almost £1m) when the retailer went under in May. 

GIMA has teamed up with ITV to produce a list of items expected to appear in the first episode of Alan Titchmarsh's new TV show, Love Your Garden. 

As the failed DIY chain's stores continue to trade, selling off stock before their planned closure next month, liquidators report impressive sales. 

The UK has fallen from 5th to 13th in a global ranking of low-carbon investment, as progress lags on decarbonising buildings, transport and industry, the CBI has said. 

Garden centre sales went up 25% in April, compared with the same month last year, as the garden industry capitalised on a late Easter, an extra Bank Holiday weekend and good weather. 

Non-food inflation slowed to 0.8% in May from 1.2% in April, reflecting the need for continued promotional activity in a bid to stimulate sales. 

Employee Larry Settle has been sentenced to eight years in prison after lax security systems at the US housewares chain allowed him to steal $1.15m worth of merchandise. 

UK retail sales fell 2.1% like-for-like in May compared to the same month last year, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. 

Carpetright's UK md Christian Sollesse has stood down from his position amid a board reshuffle at the struggling retailer. 

Home Retail Group has held talks with Habitat owner Hilco about selling Habitat-branded items within Homebase stores, according to reports. 

Plant sales continue upward trend, boosted by GYO and a 'retreat to the home' mentality, while competition hots up between garden centres and DIY superstores. 

Reds, creams and neutral shades have come out on top as the nation's favourite colours for the home.