Midland quarrying group Ennstone dug out a twofoldplus increase in profits at the half-year stage.
The Derbyshire- based group reported a pretax profit of £5.1 million on a continuing operations basis for the six months to June 30.
The figure, calculated under the IFRS rules, represent an increase of 156 per cent over the same period last year and is in stark contrast to the 80 per cent fall in full-year earnings reported in March.
Then, the profit and loss account was badly hit by the costs of closing down some unwanted elements of the Johnston group, which Ennstone bought for £50 million in 2004.
Since the takeover, Ennstone has pocketed some £28 million from the sale of Johnston's engineering operations and other associated businesses.
Interim revenues were 52 per cent up at £81 million and earnings per share rose by 58 per cent to 1.14p.
Ennstone is treating its investors to an interim dividend of 0.4p a share, a rise of five per cent.
Chairman Vaughan McLeod said Ennstone, which takes in quarrying and building products, had achieved the profits in line with expectations.
The US operations had " delivered an excellent result" on the back of a buoyant economy and mild weather in the first six months.
Continuing investment at the group's Cloud Hill Quarry in Derbyshire was resulting in one of the country's lowest cost aggregates producers, while demand for products from Breedon, also in Derbyshire, are growing. Mr McLeod praised Ennstone's Scottish operations and said the Scottish model was being applied to England.
