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Carpetright has revealed a decrease in third-quarter like-for-like sales of four per cent in the UK and Ireland.

Sales in Belgium and The Netherlands were stronger, where there were like-for-like increases of 3.1 per cent. Like-for-like sales at its ten stores in Poland grew 16 per cent.

"The third quarter started strongly but there has subsequently been a slowdown," said Lord Harris of Peckham, chairman and chief executive of the carpet and floor coverings retailer.

Lord Harris added: "In an increasingly challenging environment sales growth will be harder to come by, but I am confident that our businesses are well positioned in their markets and I expect our full year outturn to be in line with expectations."

Many retailers had a difficult quarter during the festive period as the credit crunch weighed down consumer confidence and spending.

In a trading statement released today, the firm also revealed that finance director Ian Kenyon would be leaving the company to join Carphone Warehouse as chief financial officer.

Total sales at the group's 650-plus stores increased by 4.8 per cent compared to the same period 12 months ago.

Analysts had forecast pretax earnings for the 53 weeks to May 3rd 2008 at £63 million over the prior year's £58 million, however, the interim statement did not itself include earnings figures.

Carpetright's share price has fallen by more than six per cent to 769p in early trading today in London on word of the sales shortfall. Shares in the company sold as high as 1160p in early November.