Eve Group stacks up 25% rise in profits

ONE OF Eve Group's biggest lines of business came into its own yesterday when the company's crowd control barriers helped contain a big demonstration in the City of London.

The group plans and erects barriers and walkways for every public event from Glastonbury to Wimbledon. Today its services will be used to support the crowd control efforts during the Royal Wedding.

Yesterday Eve announced profits up 25 per cent to pounds 3.78m, more than half of which came from its barriers and walkways, euphemistically known as "access systems".

Alan Robertson, chief executive, said demand for its services was increasing. The company's earnings will grow as public celebrations of the millennium reach a crescendo.

However, earnings in the year to March disappointed the City. Shares in Eve, which also provides services to the telecoms, power and leisure industries, fell from 322.5p to 285p.