Swedish fashion retailer H&M has posted a 10 per cent fall in like-for-like sales for April after bearing the brunt of cold weather, but said trade in the first two weeks of May had improved.

Total sales for April dropped 1 per cent, compared with the previous year.

H&M managing director Rolf Eriksen said: “Considerably colder weather in most markets led to substantially weaker sales.”

However, he added: “The negative sales trend ended with warmer weather in the beginning of May. Sales during the first two weeks of May have been very satisfying.”

H&M trades from 1,560 stores.