Warwickshire-based AGA Rangemaster is looking to come to the boil in 2014 as the UK housing market continues to recover.

The cooker and boiler manufacturer forecast improved trading this year, as rising prices bring new confidence across the housing market.

In its annual results, the Leamington Spa firm announced operating profits up to £8.2 million from the 2012 figure of £6.5 million.

The group said: “We have some outstanding brands relevant to contemporary lifestyles and it was exciting to see the first material signs of improvement with a £5.8m increase in sales in the year to over £250m.

“This was driven by second half growth of 4.4 per cent compared to being flat in the first half. This brought a 26.2 per cent increase in operating profits for the year to £8.2m.

“Against a backcloth of increased activity in the UK housing market, we expect an improved trading performance in 2014. Currently order intake is over 6 per cent ahead of prior year.

"This is higher than the growth rates achieved overall in the second half of 2013.

“We have indicated price increases for both AGA and Rangemaster of over 3 per cent at the end of March and expect order intake to be well up at that point.

“Orders are up again. Our cookware brands selling online have all had excellent starts to the year.”