CONSERVATORY giant Ultraframe today revealed a sparkling business performance over the past 12 months with sales and profits at record levels.

The Clitheroe-based company, Europe's leading specialist designer and manufacturer of conservatory roofs, saw pre-tax profits increase by almost a quarter and sales rise more than 18 per cent in the 12 months to the end of September.

But the news from the company, which employs more than 500 staff, was not all sunny, with the recent bad weather putting a cloud over the start to the new financial year.

Rod Sellers, returning his first set of figures as chairman, said: "The impact of the bad weather and the effects of the fuel crisis have temporarily held back orders in the first two months.

"However, I can report that we have had a reasonable start to the new financial year with sales marginally ahead of last year which was itself a record period.

Chief executive David Moore (pictured) said he expected the domestic market for conservatories to increase by 52.7 per cent over the next four years.

The company continued to develop new products. It has 166 pending patent applications and 44 granted patents, 15 of which were granted in the last year.

Pre-tax profits were up 23.5 per cent to £27.51 million and turnover was 18.2 per cent at £81.67 million. Dividends to shareholders were up 36.4 per cent to 9p per share.

The group opened a new, larger £3.5 million production plant in Clitheroe in July for its commercial work and in September the company acquired two businesses in Southampton to boost its commercial work.

Overseas Ultraframe continued to develop its European and North American markets. Export sales over the past year increased 7.7 per cent to £1.6 million.

Don Greenhalgh stood down as chairman in June. Non-executive director Bob Edwards will retire from the board at the company's AGM on January 19.