黑洞社区 supplies group Heywood Williams has said the weak North American sub-prime market hit its 2007 results.

The group reported a 3.2% fall in pre-tax profit to 拢9.1m and predicted tough conditions for the year ahead.

The fall was principally at its LaSalle Bristol operation, which suffered a drop in demand from the manufactured housing industry.

Robert Barr, chief executive, said the group would 鈥渃ontinue to demonstrate its resilience in 2008鈥�, despite the dip.

Meanwhile, Travis Perkins saw pre-tax profit rise by 19% from 拢220m to 拢261m. Turnover at the builders merchant rose 12% from 拢2.85bn to 拢3.18bn.

It carried out an aggressive expansion scheme during the year, opening 75 branches.

There was also good news at Irish building materials group CRH, which posted turnover growth of 12% to *21bn (拢16bn) for the year ended 31 December 2007.

Pre-tax profit was *1.9bn (拢1.45bn), up 19% from the figure in the previous year.

Liam O鈥橫ahony, chief executive, said: 鈥淐RH is well positioned across its operations to deal with the evolving market circumstances.鈥�