Now the washout of a summer looks set to hit High Street stores as they struggle to sell warm-weather clothes

As summers go, it has been such a washout that wellies are likely to have replaced sandals as the footwear of choice for most Scots.

Now there could be good news for bargain hunters but bad news for retailers as the miserable weather could force them to slash the prices of summer clothes.

High Street sales slumped last month as shoppers have been put off buying clothes and shoes for warm weather because of the relentless rain.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for torrential rain in parts of Scotland this week which could be heavy enough to trigger flooding.

Forecasters at the Met Office have predicted that nearly four inches of rain could fall in the Grampian and north-west Highlands in just over 24 hours from Tuesday night.

The unseasonably wet and cool weather will serve to further dampen the spirits of retailers who now fear having to offer substantial discounts on summer ranges.

Many Scots are also already away on holiday, meaning there may be a limited window for shops to shift stock designed for warm weather.

Figures released by the Scottish Retail Consortium showed that High Street sales were down by 3.6 per cent in June compared to the same period last year.

Non-food sales fell by 4.8 per cent and food sales decreased by 1.1 per cent.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: ‘Fashion retailers will be particularly worried at the combination of poor sales and the predictions the unseasonable weather may persist.

‘If that’s the case there will be a real pressure to start discounting summer ranges to try to make the best of a difficult situation.

‘With may Scots already heading away on their summer holidays, the window to convince shoppers to splash out on clothing and footwear designed for warm sunshine is closing.’

Scotland’s hospitality industry has been boosted this summer by the Edinburgh leg of Taylor Swift’s world tour and the Euros football tournament.

But the figures indicate people have been more inclined to spend their hard-earned cash on going out and experiences than in the shops.

Mr MacDonald-Russell said retailers would be ‘glad to see the back of June after a miserable trading performance’.

He said: ‘Retail sales fell by 3.6 percent in real terms as Scots appeared to focus on experiences ahead of shopping.

‘Food sales fell back across the month, possibly a sign consumers have a little more financial headroom after a year of responding to food price inflation.

‘However, there was little evidence of a switch to high street spending, with summer clothing and footwear ranges particularly struggling.’

The worst of the weather this week will be in the north, with Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands likely to be affected by heavy rain.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the weather would feel ‘pretty autumnal’ at times.

Temperatures will be ‘relatively suppressed’ as the UK is on the colder side of the jet stream, he said.

He added: ‘For many under the band of rain it is going to feel pretty disappointing and a bit unpleasant.’

A yellow weather warning for rain will be in force in the north of Scotland between 10pm on Tuesday until 11.59pm on Wednesday.

Motorists could encounter difficult driving conditions and some places could be cut off by flooded roads.

The longer-term forecast includes thunderstorms and heavy showers, but the Met Office said that at the end of July there is a ‘slightly greater than normal chance of a more prolonged settled spell developing at some point’.