Evidence of the pain felt by mid-sized contractors was apparent this week as three firms posted falls in turnover and profit

Off-site specialist Caledonian posted the smallest drop, with turnover down from 拢139.7m to 拢135.3m in the year to 3 January.

In a statement the company said: 鈥淭he construction sector weakened during the second half of 2008 as the availability of finance for projects dried up. The market for off-site construction followed this trend.鈥�

Pre-tax profit at the company fell 22% from 拢12.5m to 拢9.8m and the basic pay of the highest paid director fell from 拢150,000 to 拢106,000.

Eric Wright Group, the north-west England construction firm, posted a pre-tax loss of 拢1.6m in 2008 after a writedown of 拢4.9m on its commercial and residential assets.

Turnover at the company fell almost a third from 拢164.3m to 拢117.2m. In relation to its construction arm it said: 鈥淲inning work in a deteriorating market proved extremely difficult.鈥�

Finally, Scottish firm Dawn Construction suffered a 21% fall in turnover from 拢83.5m to 拢65.7m in the year to 31 January 2009. Pre-tax profit fell 29% to 拢8.7m.

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