HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon Plc has announced record results for the financial year to December 31, 2003.

Net pre-tax profits increased by 32 per cent to £352.5m (2002: £267.6m).

"Our profits for the second half of 2003 were in excess of £200m," said chairman Duncan Davidson.

"This is the first occasion on which we have achieved this level of profitability in any six-month period."

Turnover in 2003 was £1.88b (2002: £1.71b) from the legal completion of 12,163 homes. The average selling price was £154,810.