Car manual firm Haynes Publishing has been hit by "extremely disappointing" trading after retailers ran down stocks to lower than usual levels.

The Yeovil-based firm, which has sold 150 million manuals since 1960, only expects to make a small profit in the first six months of its financial year, although it believes it is now over the worst of the destocking.

The publisher of guides on everything from motorcycle repairs to retirement pointed out its performance normally improves significantly in the second half of the financial year.

Half-year results on January 29 are expected to be well down on last year's £1.2 million but by the time of the presentation the company should be in a better position to report on its full-year expectations. Shares fell 7%.

In October, Haynes said UK sales were 35% down for the 13 weeks to the end of August compared to a year ago, due to lower stock levels held by key automotive customers.

At its US and Australian operations, first quarter sales were 18% down once the strong pound was taken into account.

The group said that even though its professional manuals were trading strongly in Europe its first quarter sales only lifted by 2% after sales were translated into sterling.

Founder John Haynes wrote and published his first book, on building an Austin 7 Special, while he was still at school in 1956.

The firm was launched four years later and publishes manuals on health, history, leisure and DIY in 15 languages including Russian and Chinese.

Upcoming Haynes titles include the Beer Manual, the Body Transformation Manual and the Alien Invasion Survival Manual.