STEADY sales and a strong order book it the Belfast bus builder, Walter Alexander, have helped its British parent company to achieve record half year profits of £10.2 million sterling.

Mr John Simpson, the chief executive of the Mayflower Corporation, which bought Alexander's - a year ago for £28 million, said the Northern Ireland company had performed well.

"Sales for the group in the first six months were almost £40 million and the outlook for the second half is encouraging, with the order book over 20 per, cent up on the same period last year."

Mr Simpson said Mayflower was considering other investment opportunities in Northern Ireland.