Carpetright is floored by fall

CARPETRIGHT, Europe's leading specialist carpet and floor coverings retailer, has seen reported pre-tax profits fall 11 per cent, causing its founder to warn the coming year would be "one of the most difficult" in his career.

Lord Philip Harris, a 50-year veteran of carpet selling, said "there is no doubt" that the UK floor coverings market is becoming more difficult, in line with other housing and DIY-related sectors.

"This challenge has remained and I believe that the next year will be one of the most difficult I have seen," he said.

The company, which has more than 500 stores in the UK and Ireland, including three in Edinburgh, said UK and Ireland like-for-like sales dropped 2.7 per cent in the year to May 3.