Pets at Home have reported soaring sales of dog coats, scarves and booties as owners tried to protect their animals from the snow and icy conditions.

The petcare retailer, which operates more than 300 stores across the UK, said “pet fashion” sales had leapt by 131 per cent week-on-week, with coats said to have been driving trade.

Peter Pritchard, commercial director at Pets at Home, said: “We’ve seen an unprecedented demand for products designed to keep pets warm in this sudden freezing weather. Old, small or short-haired dogs can feel the cold more than others.”