The founder and chief of online retailer AO World has condemned the group's hefty bill for no-deal Brexit planning as "wasted" money after revealing £15 million of stockpiling efforts.

John Roberts, who recently returned back in to take the helm after a two-year hiatus, said the group had invested heavily and has "done everything we can" to prepare for a chaotic Brexit, both in the UK and Germany, where it launched in 2014.

He told the Press Association the cash could have been better spent elsewhere.

He said: "We feel very ready and have spent a lot of money. I'd class that as wasted a lot of money."

Mr Roberts added: "We could have invested that money on much (more) positive things."

READ MORE: Pizza Express looks to make cuts without closures

The retailer - which imports the majority of its electrical goods - recently confirmed it has boosted stocks of its most popular products by around £15m in the past three months to prepare for Brexit.

It came as the group also warned it was likely to have an underlying loss for the year to March 31.