Retail sales fell in August after two months of increases, casting doubt on a prolonged recovery in High Street consumer spending.

UK like-for-like sales - which do not include new stores - fell 0.1% compared with the same month last year, said the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Sales rose by 1.8% in July and by 1.4% in June against a year earlier.

Food sales growth was more than offset by falls in clothing, home accessories and furniture in particular.

Total sales growth, which includes the impact of new stores, rose by 2.2%.