HP has reclaimed top spot in the UK PC market for the first time in four years, figures from research house Gartner reveal.

With direct-selling rival Dell managing just 14.5 per cent year-on-year unit growth in the third quarter, HP was able to surge past into pole position with growth of 24.9 per cent.

HP shipped 702,000 units in the three months ending September, handing it 24 per cent marketshare. Dell, which struggled to compete with HP in the consumer market, saw its share slip to 22.8 per cent.

Ranjit Atwal, principal analyst at Gartner, said: “HP and Dell control more than 45 per cent of the UK market, and with mobile growth remaining strong, HP could extend its market share in the fourth quarter of 2007.”

Overall, Gartner said the UK was one of western Europe’s poorest performing markets in Q3 as excess retail inventory from over-forecasted Vista shipments stunted growth.

Total UK shipments were 2.9 million, a growth of 13.6 per cent on an annual comparison.

Shipments in western Europe as a whole grew 17.7 per cent to 13.8 million.

Further reading:

HP adds more source to Preferred Partner Programme

Dell tight-lipped over distribution

Dell back on the road to growth