Sunshine sparked a shopping spree last month as Brits fired up the barbecues.
Retail sales surged by 1.2 per cent in April with food and drink businesses the main beneficiaries.
That was far better than the 0.4 per cent increase in volumes that analysts had pencilled in.
Growth over the past quarter has now been the sharpest for four years, in a relief for struggling high streets.
The figures suggest consumer confidence has been holding up despite data suggesting the economy is stalling and inflation creeping up.
