Like-for-like sales at DSG International fell sharply in the third quarter in spite of a rush of bargain-hunters coming to its electrical stores after Christmas.

DSG, the former Dixons, which owns chains such as Currys, PC World and Elkjøp, said that in the 12 weeks to January 10 like-for-like sales fell 10 per cent, while total group sales were down 1 per cent. That was worse than the 7 per cent like-for-like sales decline in the first half of the group’s financial year to mid-October.