Marshalls looks for a lift from Crossrail

The paving group Marshalls is hoping to put the wet weather of 2012 behind it, and profit from its growing involvement in London's Crossrail and the early signs of a pick-up in private housebuilding.

Profits last year fell to £10.4m from £13.7m on revenues that were down 7 per cent at £310m.

Marshalls shed 360 jobs as part of its plans to reduce costs by £7m a year.

The dividend for the year is unchanged at 5.25p a share.