Sales for homeware retailer Dunelm - with outlets in Gloucester and Cheltenham - increased by 8.3% in the first quarter to £388.8 million.

The retailer said the performance was mainly driven by a positive response to its summer sale, improved product availability and new furniture ranges.

Online sales increased by 20 per cent in the same period.

Dunelm says it is working with its long-term suppliers and partners to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruption and inflationary pressures resulting from issues caused by freight and driver shortages.

Nick Wilkinson, Dunelm chief executive, said: "We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter, with sales growth across all channels and continued market share gains, especially given the strength of the comparative period last year, which benefited from pent-up demand following the first UK lockdown.

"We continue to invest in enhancing our market leading proposition to win more customers who shop more frequently across Dunelm's expanding range. For example, we have now developed a 'my favourites' functionality online, which is another step in getting closer to our customers and making their homewares shopping as easy as possible."