Kingfisher, the home improvement and consumer electronics firm, has posted better-than-expected profits thanks to a strong performance from the UK DIY chain B&Q.

The company saw pre-tax profits for the half-year before one-off items jump to �274.4m, compared with a figure of �217.2m for the same period last year.

"Overall, these are a strong set of results achieved in a tough consumer environment," said chief executive Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy.

Profits at the B&Q chain leapt by 23%, while the Castorama and Brico Depot DIY chains in France could only manage a 3.8% increase.

Split planned

Kingfisher is Europe's biggest DIY retailer and is in the process of taking full control of Castorama.

Kingfisher is planning to split-off its electrical chains such as Comet

It already owned 55% of the French business, and bought the rest after a fiercely fought takeover battle earlier this year.

The company wants to concentrate on its DIY businesses, and is planning to split off its electrical goods chains, which include Comet in the UK and Darty in France.

Kingfisher said that it still wanted to float the electricals business in Paris early next year.

But chairman Francis Mackey said there was "a lot of water to go under the bridge" before a final decision was made.

Some recent reports have suggested that the float was under threat because of the turbulent conditions on the world's stock markets.

DIY leads

Kingfisher said the half-year had seen weak consumer confidence in France and Germany, with slightly better conditions in the UK.

Profits at the company's home improvement businesses rose by nearly 25% to �256,1m, helped by a cost-cutting programme in the UK.

Total sales of DIY goods grew 14.6%, while underlying sales increased by 2.8%.

Kingfisher said the B&Q chain in the UK had "continued to outperform the competition", helped by a focus on new products and lower prices.

"One of the trends you are seeing, not just in this country, is an increased propensity for people to spend more money on improving their homes," Sir Geoffrey said.

But profits at its electrical businesses slipped 6.1% to �38.2m, as underlying sales slipped by 1.5%.

And Kingfisher warned that trading conditions would remain tough for the foreseeable future.

"In the short term we expect the slowdown in the rate of economic growth to result in a continuing difficult market environment," said Sir Geoffrey.

In morning trade on the London Stock Exchange shares in Kingfisher were 3.2% lower at 208.5p.