FURNITURE group ScS Upholstery saw its stock market value melt after it warned the recent heatwave had hit sales, denting full year profit expectations.

Shares in the Sunderland-based company sank six per cent as it said it expected pre-tax profits for the year to September 30 to come in "slightly below" market expectations.

The group's overall like-for-like sales order intake after 45 weeks of its financial year fell two per cent.

It said the record-breaking hot weather during the past few week had had an "inevitable effect on trading".

In a trading statement, ScS added that it still expected to report highest-ever pre-tax profits in the full year.

The statement added: "ScS continues to gain market share and remains on target to achieve its short-term goal of 70 stores by the end of 2004."

ScS had 52 stores in the UK at the end of its half year in March and said in May that it expected to open a further five before the end of September.

It blamed the fall in overall like-for-like sales order intake in the first 45 weeks on the effect of 11 store openings in the last financial year. Shares in the group closed down 16p at 256p.