Britain''s retail sales grew 2.1 per cent last month on a like-for-like basis despite the recent heatwave, new data showed Monday.

Figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG said that figure was down 2.6 per cent on July while total sales rose 5.1 per cent in August.

BRC director general, Bill Moyes, said: "The figures for August show a solid level of performance, well within the range most retailers expected for the month.

"Whilst the record-breaking temperatures had a significant, negative impact on the level of sales during the first week, normal consumer behaviour returned as soon as the weather became less extreme."