Strong apparel and footwear sales and a heat wave helped boost UK high street sales last month, industry data revealed Tuesday.

Figures from the Retail Consortium (BRC) showed the value of retail sales climbed three per cent on a like-for-like basis and 5.7 per cent on a total basis from the year-ago period versus a 1.5 per cent and 4.3 per cent rise, respectively, in May.

"The better-than-expected increase in retail sales is obviously good news, but no one should be too excited about one month's figures in isolation," said Bill Moyes, director general of the BRC, in a statement.

"The warm weather boost has its limitations and consumers remain nervous about their long-term financial outlook."