George Wimpey topped forecasts with a pre-tax profit of £152.3m for the half-year of 2006, up from £122.3m during the same time last year and ahead of the £143m being forecast by analysts.

The company report that the significant progress made in profits over the past year came from strengthening performance and volume growth in the UK combined with profit growth in the US.

George Wimpey completed on 7,822 homes in the six month period, which is a 25 year record.