Shares in Safestyle UK have crashed after the double glazing windows firm said it would miss sales targets in the face of even weaker demand. 

The Bradford-based group was down 18% in afternoon trading on the London Stock Exchange after seeing sales volumes slide 6.8% for three months ending in November compared to last year.

The company, based in Eldon Place, off Manningham Lane, said "severe weather disruption" at the beginning of December had taken its toll on a planned installation programme, with fourth-quarter sales set to come in shy of already-reduced expectations.

The firm added: "We expect market conditions to continue to be very challenging in 2018 and although we aim to further consolidate our position of market leadership, the board has lowered its expectations of the group's performance in FY2018.

"The benefits of our cost saving and efficiency programme will fall mainly in 2018 and as such should help mitigate the impact on profitability of any further fall in market demand.

"We, therefore, expect only modest growth in earnings over 2017."