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Michelmersh Brick Holdings has issued a profit warning alongside its financial results for the six months to the end of June.

The brickmaking, land and landfill firm declared a first-half pre-tax loss of 拢84,000 for 2012 on turnover of 拢11.9 million.

The figure compares with a pre-tax profit of 拢105,000 on turnover of 拢12.2 million for the same period in 2011.

Michelmersh said it had sold some 33 million bricks in the first half of the year, down from 36 million in the first half of 2011

Chairman Eric Gadsden said the firm鈥檚 board now expected turnover for the whole year to be 鈥渕arginally below market expectations鈥� and profit before tax to be 鈥渟ignificantly below market expectations鈥� as the first-half shortfall would not be recovered.

He said proceeds from the company鈥檚 landfill operations were also likely to be below expectations and that the board now expected the company to only break even for the full year.

鈥淥ur business model has been based for some time now on a flat market, focused on the South East of England, with funding constraining demand despite the many government initiatives to attempt to arrest these conditions,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e can survive in these conditions and will thrive when conditions improve.

鈥淒espite the difficult trading conditions, positive trading cash flow and proceeds of future land asset sales will mean that the group will continue to develop the business while seeking opportunities for growth.鈥�

Gadsden said the firm planned to focus on developing its premium position in the brick market and on concluding its Telford land sales.