The group said retail like-for-like sales fell 5.5% in the eight weeks to Feb. 22, having fallen 5.4% in its fiscal first quarter.

It forecast that first half profit will be significantly below the prior year level, while profit for the full year to Oct. 3 will be "materially below" the bottom end of the current range of market expectations of 13.5 million pounds to 14.5 million pounds.

(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)