Huddersfield landscaping and paving specialist Marshalls saw sales and orders jump as it benefited from the improving economy.

The firm said revenues lifted 15% to £180 million in the six months to June 30, as trading conditions cheered across all its
major markets. Pre-tax profits leapt 75% to £14 million.

The firm, which was established in the late 1880s and operates its own quarries , added that if conditions remained favourable it was "likely" that annual sales and profits would be above expectations.

Shares in Marshalls rose by more than 3% following the update.

Chief executive Martyn Coffey said: "Marshalls has experienced strong growth in the first half of the year and forward indicators continue to be positive in all major end markets."

The Huddersfield-based group added that it planned to ramp up production to meet current demand and to eventually return to sales and profit levels it enjoyed before the recession.

Earlier this month official figures confirmed the UK was now growing at an annualised growth rate of 3.2%, passing the country's 2008
pre-recession peak.

Marshalls said its order book stood at an historic high of 11.5 weeks at the end of June, compared to 10.2 weeks a year ago.

It added that its public sector and commercial unit, which represents around 62% of sales, lifted 19% on increasing orders from the rail and housebuilding industry.

Marshalls is a contractor on London's east-to-west Crossrail link, which is the largest construction project in Europe.

A number of City analysts raised their full-year forecasts on the strength of Marshalls' six months results. Panmure Gordon lifted its
full-year pre-tax profit estimate by 6.7% to £21 million.

Brokers at Numis added: "In our view Marshalls remains a great way of playing economic recovery with volumes still way below pre-recession levels."