An upbeat trading statement to the City this morning revealed brick and block revenues for November and December combined were 6% higher than the previous year.

Forterra now expects pre-tax profits for the year to be £16m on revenue of £290m.

The company said: “Looking ahead, the steady improvement in trading through the second half of 2020, along with recent positive statements from our customers, provides growing cause for optimism, although uncertainty remains.

“The impact of the current Stamp Duty holiday coupled with the impending tapering of the Help to Buy scheme on underlying patterns of demand is unclear.

“Additionally, the wider economic implications of the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU and the longer-term economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic remain uncertain.

“The Board continues to closely monitor both our markets and the wider economy and believes that the Group remains well-placed to benefit from a sustained recovery of our key markets with a structural under supply of housing in the UK expected to continue supporting long-term demand.

“In the shorter term, the strength of our balance sheet offers resilience against any further challenges ahead.”