Boots, the struggling UK chemists chain, has delayed the remainder of its £700m (€1bn) share buyback programme in the face of bleak high street trading. It has also disclosed that its pension hole grew more than 40% in the year to the end of March and pre-tax profits dropped 11.4% to £481m.

Chief executive Richard Baker, said last year that Boots would be returning £700m to shareholders over two years.