British households hit by recent food price hikes have been given respite by a slowdown in grocery inflation, new research shows.

Fresh figures from Kantar Worldpanel show that food price inflation has levelled out at 3.2pc, the same rate of increase as this time last month.

Food prices have been soaring since the vote to leave the European Union thanks to rising import costs as a result of the weaker pound.

The increase in prices has boosted supermarket sales, which were particularly buoyant last month as the UK enjoyed its hottest June day in 40 years.