Home furnishing retailer Dunelm saw a big rise in sales during July and August.

Dunelm's total year-on-year sales were up 59 per cent in July, due to pent-up demand following the store closures and the timing of its summer sale. Sales at the chain, which has stores in Gloucester and Cheltenham, rose by 24 per cent in August, as reported by Reuters.

Shares in the company rose by five per cent.

The retailer said the sales were a combination of increased footfall in its stores and a growth in home delivery.

But it remains cautious for the future, due to uncertainty in the wider economy and the potential impact of further regional or national lockdowns.

Dunelm said last month that it expects a fall of as much as £21m in annual pretax profit, but that it was seeing signs of recovery from returning customers.