BOOKSELLERS Waterstones is to remove Amazon's Kindle e-book devices from its stores after sales fell to "pitiful" levels.

James Daunt, managing director of Waterstones, said that a decision had been made to take back display space in shops and that the electronic books had not proven to be a hit with shoppers after an initial surge in sales.

He said: “Sales of Kindles continue to be pitiful so we are taking the display space back in more and more shops.

"It feels very much like the life of one of those inexplicable bestsellers; one day piles and piles, selling like fury; the next you count your blessings with every sale because it brings you closer to getting it off your shelves forever to make way for something new.

"Sometimes, of course, they ‘bounce’ but no sign yet of this being the case with Kindles.”

Kindles have become widely used by readers but print book sales have shown an increase in recent months, rising by 4.6 per cent in the first 36 weeks of 2015 compared to the same time last year.

An Amazon spokesman said the company was “pleased with the positive momentum and growing distribution of Kindle and Fire tablet sales" and added that Kindle book sales in the UK were growing.

He added: "Our devices are now available in over 2,500 retail locations across the UK, including Argos, Tesco, Dixons, John Lewis and recent additions like Sainsbury’s, Boots and Shop Direct. Our UK, US and worldwide Kindle book sales are growing in 2015.”