Laura Ashley blames heatwave for profit slump

Laura Ashley's struggling fashion range combined with "unlucky" weather to push the UK retailer's first-half profits 11% lower.

The sofas-to-wallpaper group blamed the summer heatwave and spring freeze for six months of deteriorating performance, with like-for-like sales falling 2.2% in the six months to the end of July and pre-tax profits dropping to £7.4m.