Strong demand in the public sector and commercial markets help group.
Specialist paving stone manufacturer Marshalls has said its full-year results should meet expectations despite wet weather in June and July last year adversely affecting its domestic market.

Like-for-like sales in the domestic division were described as 'slightly ahead'.

In a trading statement for the year ending December 31, 2007 it said revenues improved by seven per cent from strong demand in the public sector and commercial market after achieving sales of £403m in 2007 (2006: £378m).

Huddersfield-based Marshalls said that it had made a positive start to the year with encouraging order books in the domestic market.

Marshalls is currently overhauling its domestic business with the opening of nine new garden and driveway display centres in Spring this year.

A fourth display centre for gardens and driveways opened in Enfield in August. A further display centre in Oldham opened in November, and one in Bicester opened in December 2007.

Marshalls will report full-year figures in March.