Next has advised shareholders ahead of a meeting later this week that warmer weather in September has impacted the gains made in a cooler August, dragging down third quarter sales to 6% from an estimated 10%.

The company added that its profit forecast for the full year remained within previous guidance and said that “our experience suggests that some lost sales are regained when the weather turns”.

However, the company added that, if the unseasonably warm weather continues for the full duration of October, the company was likely to lower its full-year profit guidance range of £775 million to £815 million.