B&Q's parent company, Kingfisher, has revealed falling sales and profits in its fourth quarter results, warning of an uncertain UK market.

For the quarter to 31st January, the company announced a 5.1 per cent drop in like-for-like sales at the DIY chain, while sales growth at another Kingfisher company, Screwfix, dropped from 10.2 per cent in the previous quarter to 7.1 per cent, as reported by Retail Gazette.

B&Q has stores in Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham, and Screwfix has stores in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Cirencester and Tewkesbury.

Despite adverse conditions in the UK, Kingfisher, which also owns companies elsewhere in Europe, saw sales rise 3.8 per cent to £11.6 billion over the year. But adjusted pre-tax profits for the group show a fall of 8.1 per cent to £683 million.

A continued squeeze on consumer spending since the Brexit vote has put pressure on Kingfisher in the UK, as consumers avoid making big-ticket purchases. In November it revealed that UK sales at B&Q were lagging, dropping 0.5 per cent. This was largely offset by a 10.2 per cent jump in sales at Screwfix.

Weaker sales in the UK and volatile performance in France have been partly offset by solid growth in Kingfisher's outlets in Poland.