Sales rose 5.9% at Howdens Joinery UK in the first four months of 2012.

In an interim trading update, the company said revenue was up by 4% on a same depot basis.

Howdens said direct comparisons with last year were difficult due to a number of factors, including the timing of bank holidays and price increases, the latter having been in February this year and June last year.

“The board is pleased with performance in the year to date, whilst remaining cautious about the outlook for the rest of the year, given the prevailing economic environment,” the company said.

Howdens is opening around 20 depots this year, with one new depot having opened so far. It now has 510 UK depots.