Topps Tiles has enjoyed a strong start to its new financial year, with the recovering housing market generating better-than-expected sales. 

The UK has been hit by adverse weather in recent weeks, leaving some areas without power and parts of many towns under water. Weather warnings are also still in place in some parts of the country. 

Dunelm saw like-for-like sales dip in the first half of its current financial year, although they were significantly better in the latter weeks of the period. 

Dobbies Garden Centres has submitted planning applications to extend its retail offer at its Braehead and Dundee stores. 

Plans have been submitted to Norwich City Council to reduce the size of the B&Q store at Neatmarket to allow Morrisons to move in. 

There are now only five weeks to go before the identities of the prestigious Gold winners in the 2014 DIY Week Awards are revealed. 

Growing media supplier William Sinclair has secured an injection of working capital that will allow it to reinvigorate its brands and push forward with the development of its Ellesmere Port manufacturing site. 

Sales for the year to December 24 are 1.25% ahead of expectations and sales growth in the final week before Christmas reached nearly £24m. 

Axminster Tools & Machinery has been created the 15th corporate member of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers of the City of London. 

A gang of thieves who stole thousands of pounds' worth of goods from branches of B&Q has been jailed for a total of six years. 

Early reports from the high street suggest that hardware and garden independents for the most part enjoyed good sales over the Christmas 2013 trading period. 

John Lewis has published its trading report for the five weeks to December 28. It revealed new "bricks and clicks" records as total sales amounted to £734m, up 7.2% from last year, 6.9% like-for-like. 

Kingfisher group ceo Ian Cheshire has been recognised in the New Year Honours list with a knighthood. 

DIY Week publisher Datateam has expanded its presence in the medical communications sector with a new acquisition. 

Joe Inzani, managing director of independent builders merchant Lawsons, was involved in a fatal car accident on Christmas Eve, and died in the early hours of Christmas morning. 

French DIY retailers have moved a step closer to full freedom to trade on Sundays with a new ruling from the country's government. 

B&Q has come first in a list of the top 20 DIY and hardware stores in Britain that has been compiled by The Telegraph. Companies range from country-wide chains to "independent gems". 

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed the names of the two winning garden centres for its Christmas display competition. 

Boundary Mill Stores has unveiled plans to expand its existing business at its site in Colne, near Burnley, to include a new garden centre and farm shop. 

Retail sales have recovered strongly in the year to December, bouncing back after two disappointing months, the CBI has announced.