JOHN Lewis Partnership said department store sales growth slowed to 0.6% year-on-year last week – with figures hit by the timing of Easter and competition from the sunny weather.

Excluding Easter trading, like-for-like sales were 10% up on a year ago. Top of the table was the store at Bluewater, Kent, which racked up a 6.1% rise followed by the Trafford Centre store at 5.7%. Cambridge was 3.8% ahead.

John Lewis said its online shopping business – which was unaffected by the bank holiday – delivered a 41.3% rise in sales.

Fashions posted a 4.2% increase with women’s wear particularly strong. There were smaller gains for home products, furniture, garden equipment and barbecues.