Milder weather and public holidays hit DCC's largest division in the first quarter of its fiscal year, affecting overall trading in the group, it said today.

The industrial holdings group also warned of a difficult economic environment, particularly in the UK, and an expected return to the more usual milder winters, which could affect its full-year results.

In an interim management statement, DCC said the mildest April on record combined with number of public holidays in the UK were to blame for DCC Energy's trading falling behind in the three months to June 30th.

The group said its overall trading in the first two months of the quarter was hit by results in DCC Energy, and will affect half year results.

However, its second largest division, DCC Sercom, performed better than the same period a year earlier, despite a less favourable environment for consumer demand.

The company said the growth was driven by SerCom Distribution, which benefited from acquisitions completed a year earlier and also some modest organic growth.

Other divisions, including DCC Healthcare, DCC Environmental and DCC Food & Beverage, were broadly in line with expectations.

Looking ahead to the full year results, DCC said it expects operating profit and adjusted earnings per share on a constant currency basis to be broadly in line with or modestly behind the prior year.