Marshalls still bullish despite weather

Paving stone maker Marshalls yesterday said the snow cost it £5 million in lost sales but could not ruin what has been a good year of recovery.

December's Arctic blast meant paving slabs could not be laid. In addition, the chill disrupted work at the group's quarries and manufacturing plants, particularly in Scotland and the north-east of England, wiping a total of about 800,000 from its profits.

Despite the disappointing end to 2010, the company said that revenues for the year increased by 4 per cent to 323 million, helped by a 6 per cent rise in sales to the public sector and businesses.

It marks a good recovery for the firm which last year said profits reached 7.5m in the six months to 30 June, recovering from an 82 per cent slump to 4m a year earlier when the industry was hit by the recession.