UK online shoppers spent more than £4.4bn in April, an increase of 13% year on year, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-retail sales index.

The latest figures from the etail trade body were boosted by a 32% increase in the Home & Garden catagory, while Clothing, Footwear & Accessories was up 21% and Health and Beauty up 16%.

Multi-channel retailers had a 22% year-on-year sales increase, but pure-play etailers only had a 6% increase.

Chris Webster, Capgemini VP of retail consulting and technology, said, “The clothing sector in particular has been given a boost by April’s early signs of summer, with shoppers logging on to update their wardrobes for the new season. This sector is driving growth for the industry as a whole.”

However, online travel sales grew by just 5% year on year and fell by 9% from March as the ash cloud deterred people from booking holidays and flights.

David Stratton, head of sales and travel at HolidayExtras.com, said, “We’ve taken a hit since the volcanic ash disrupted UK air space. At the height of the chaos we were receiving 1,000 cancellations a day.”