Shares in consultant WSP hit a four-year high on Monday after it revealed an impressive set of results.

Shares peaked at 415p, up by more than 5%, when WSP said it had increased pre-tax profit 36% to 拢20.2m in the year to the end of December 2005.

Chris Cole, chief executive, said that every part of the business in the UK and abroad had been "pulling its weight". He said the best results had been in the private sector property market, which accounted for more than 50% of the business.

Cole said that WSP's acquisition last year of Cantor Seinuk, the New York high-rise specialist, had paid off. Last week it was appointed as structural on the planned 65-storey building at 200 Greenwich Street, which is located on the 9/11 Ground Zero site.

He said further acquisitions were likely: "With our shares at their current level our appetite for acquisitions is there. We only want consultants."

Turnover increased 16% to 拢374m and the board recommended a final dividend of 4p a share, a rise of 25%.