Housebuilder Bellway has achieved 10% more completions in the past six months than in the same period last year.

In an upbeat trading statement for the six months to 31 January, the company said it had completed 3,264 homes compared with 2,958 last year.

Most of the increase was achieved through private home sales, although social housing sales also increased.

The statement said that operating margins were 鈥渂roadly similar鈥� to last year at 19%. Average selling price increased to 拢173,000 from 拢167,000.

Bellway is expecting to make a record operating profit for the period, exceeding last year鈥檚 figure of 拢96m.

Bellway has already secured 80% of this year鈥檚 targeted volume in reservations.

Shares in the company rose by almost 4% to 1,480p after the announcement.