Spending in food stores in the UK dropped in July for the first time in at least 25 years as the supermarket price war took effect, official figures showed today.

THE Big Freeze has became the Big Thaw — putting the country on flood alert after a spectacular rise of up to 19C in daytime temperatures plus heavy rain.

The number of shoppers on UK high streets fell to their lowest level for four years in July following the deadly bomb attacks in London, it emerged today.

The second wave of bomb attacks reduced the number of shoppers in central London by more than a quarter compared with this time a year ago, it emerged today.

British department store chain John Lewis today revealed sales fell 11.7% last week as shoppers stayed at home in the wake of the London terrorist attacks.