April rain a dampener for Marshalls

The paving specialist Marshalls lost the equivalent of three days' sales in April as the rain poured down on planned patios and drives.

With 138mm falling last month against just 14mm in April 2011, Marshalls said sales fell by £5m. That left revenues for the first four months down 3 per cent at £106m but the group said it still expected to outperform its competitors.

The group, which supplied paving for the Olympic Stadium and Athletes' Village, said that after a satisfactory first quarter, sales did not show their usual post-Easter uplift.