THE SCORCHING summer may have been great news for sun-worshippers and holidaymakers.

But it has cast an unexpected cloud over parts of the High Street, with a shopping stayaway that has caused an eight per cent sales dip in at least one Bournemouth store.

Beales bravely announced a profit warning to shareholders yesterday and watched its shares lose 4.5p in value.

The department store's finance director, Ken Owst said: "This is a disappointing performance but I believe we will see positive sales growth in the next financial year.

"Department store shoppers are more likely to be leisure shoppers and come in to the store to browse.

"When it's hot they'll probably re-allocate that time to a different leisure activity, such as sitting on the beach or in the garden."

The Beales figures are among the first to be announced from this industry sector, but analysts believe all department stores could be similarly affected.

Bournemouth town centre manager Kevin Moore agreed. He would not comment on sales but admitted that "footfall", the amount of people walking into shops, was lower during the heatwave weeks.

"People were going down the beach and so retailers of beach goods, cold drinks and ice-creams had a bumper time," he said.

"It sounds obvious, but retail depends so much on what you are selling at a certain point. I know that at one stage Beales ran out of electric fans during the heatwave.

"They were trying to get extra fans all over the place and I was told they could probably have sold a storeful but, of course, no one could have predicted the need for them that far ahead.

"In Bournemouth, I think all the retailers agree that the ideal weather would be warm, sunny days that allow everyone to have a nice time on the beach, with it then clouding over by 3pm, so they all decide to pack up and go to the shops!"

Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics show a confusing retail picture.

According to the ONS, retail sales fell by 0.4 per cent on the month in July. But this still leaves them 4.4 per cent higher than 2002.

The dip was less than expected after a 1.9 per cent monthly increase in June, and the ONS said the month-on-month fall was not as significant as the underlying growth rate.

Richard Lowe, retail director of Barclays Business Banking said: "The unseasonably hot weather in July did not sap the energy of consumers. DIY retailers and electricals reported runs on cooling fans and domestic air conditioning units.

"Although the July numbers were stronger than anticipated, it remains to be seen if this is the start of a more sustained period of growth.

"Clothing and footwear, and most notably women's outerwear, was the largest contributor to the upward movement in the All Items RPI in July, with summer sales markdowns being less extensive than a year earlier.

"Nevertheless, overall, clothing and footwear prices remain lower than in 2002."

* See Business news in Monday's Bank Holiday Echo.