Britain's love affair with DIY continues

B&Q sales grew by 6.3% in the first three months of the year, while Kingfisher's French DIY chain, Brico Depot, also did well.

Strong Easter sales helped the company baulk the general slowdown in consumer spending over the period.

Group retail profits were up to �154m ($251m) for the three months to 2 May, with sales growth of 4.1%.

Profits were also boosted by the strong euro, and savings following Kingfisher taking full control of French company Castorama.

There were losses in the firm's Kesa electrical division, however.

Kesa, which includes Comet, is being demerged and listed separately next month.

'Fat cat' pay

As well as B&Q in the UK, Kingfisher also owns the French chain Castorama and Hornbach in Germany.

Kingfisher, Europe's largest DIY store, has been shedding businesses to concentrate on its most profitable business of home improvements.

Kingfisher, which is holding it annual meeting on Wednesday, also announced it was to change its executive pay scheme following criticism of so-called "fat cat" payouts.

The company has agreed to limit potentially large pay-offs to directors in the event they leave the company and has more clearly defined the performance criteria governing chief executive Gerry Murphy's share option scheme.

Mr Murphy said the changes were pushed through after he met shareholders who made it clear the issues were "irritants".

Kingfisher's share price fell 1p to 266p in early morning trading.