Retailers have reported a strong start to new year trading but fear it could be derailed by snowstorms and icy weather across the country.

Agents have reported good sales immediately after Christmas but saw the crucial early New Year period badly affected by the weather.

Miles Morgan, founder of Miles Morgan Travel, described New Year in his 10 shops as “fantastic” but said snow had brought an interruption.

“We’ve done brilliantly, back to pre-recession levels – which is why the impact of the snow has been so disappointing. A couple of shops had to be closed for periods but the staff are desperate to get back to business.”

Advantage chief executive John McEwan said: “For the week ending January 3, summer 2010 sales were 20% up, although winter 2009-10 is 15-20% down cumulatively.

“We will have to see whether this represents a real change in buying habits.”

Global Travel Lounge managing director Peter Buckell reported sales back up to January 2008 levels, up 20% since Christmas.

Worldchoice operations director Bill Pickering reported an increase in average spend from £627 to £817 but said the weather was affecting sales.

Some believe a prolonged cold spell could put the high street multiples at a disadvantage.

Designer Travel co-founder Amanda Matthews said: “Our shop has been closed for a couple of days but we are level with last year because we have homeworkers and the technology to divert calls and emails. I expect to see telephone and internet-based businesses try to take advantage of the weather conditions.”

GfK Ascent-MI managing director Sarah Smalley said: “It will be interesting to see if the snow delays bookings to shops – which have been outperforming direct channels – or drives bookings to call centres and the internet.”

Have YOUR sales been affected by the bad weather. Let us know my emailing ttgletters@ttglive.com, or leave a comment at the end of this story.