B&Q is to close 60 stores in the UK - the equivalent of roughly one in six - as it battles slow sales.

The closure of the stores is one of the first major decisions to be taken by the new chief executive of B&Q's parent company Kingfisher, Véronique Laury, whoo took on the role in September last year.

Additionally, six stores will 'shrink' as part of the measures.

The firm said it would also close its "few loss-making stores in Europe".

"Kingfisher has said for some time that B&Q UK & Ireland can adequately meet local customer needs from fewer stores and that some of the store should be smaller," it said in a statement.

Kingfisher also announced a 15.2 per cent fall in pre-tax profit to £644m for 2014.

Ms Laury said it was "clear" the firm needed to organise itself "very differently to unlock our potential", and described the move as part of a set of "first sharp decisions" she was taking.

The closures are likely to lead to the loss of hundreds of jobs.

There are a number of B&Q stores in the area, including at Castlepoint shopping centre, Fleetsbridge in Poole, Orchid Way in Christchurch and Jubilee Close in Weymouth.