The Queensgate shopping centre-based department store, which employs 800 staff, was among a number of branches that reported what was described as a “sizeable sales fall”.

The slip comes after a year in which the Peterborough branch had reported record sales and where staff had enjoyed a bonus payout worth 20 per cent of their annual salary.

Some experts fear the drop in sales is a sign that shoppers in Peterborough may be starting to feel the pinch of the economic slowdown and are beginning to tighten their belts.

But general manager Richard Dearden said: “This time last year we were benefitting from some great weather with high sales of outdoor furniture and outdoor toys.

“That has not been the case this year and is reflected in our sales figures.

“For April, we are three per cent down on budget overall, but sales of garden furniture are 50 per cent down and picnicware is 33 per cent down. Furniture is a very strong element of what we offer.

“It also comes on the back of a few years where we have outperformed the division.

“But I expect that we will do well later in the year.”

He added: “I think people are being a little more careful with their spending than they were last year.

“But it was encouraging to listen to Bank of England governor Mervyn King when he visited Peterborough last week.

“Mr King said he was expecting the current financial constraints to loosen and which might spark a little bit of a revival in the economy.”

Nationally, John Lewis reported a sales rise of 1.1 per cent in the week to April 26.

John Lewis’ national director of retail operations Patrick Lewis said the week had started strongly but sales slipped because of mid-season promotions by a couple of competitors during Thursday and Friday, and that shoppers had stayed away on Saturday because of sunny weather and sporting events.

Out of 26 stores, the chain’s outlets in London’s Oxford Street, Southsea and Aberdeen saw sales rise.