Beal Homes' half-year figures reveal the group made pre-tax profits of more than £2m on sales of £11.7m in the half-year which ended June 30.

That compared with half-year profits of £2.02m and turnover of £11.85m in the comparable period in 2007.

Chairman John Beal claimed that the main problems facing the housing market were the length of time taken to arrange mortgages and some media coverage, which he said had dented buyer confidence.

Mr Beal said the firm's most buoyant local development was Burton Waters, where many purchasers are cash buyers and investors and unaffected by mortgage difficulties.

Nearly a third of homes at its Branston site have also been snapped up off plan and contracts exchanged, Mr Beal added