Athlone Extrusions has said that the year has started well for the company, with both sales and profits ahead of last year.

"We have recorded good growth in our non-UK markets and trading conditions in the UK markets have improved for us, facilitated by the strength of sterling," chairman Mr Jack Hayes told shareholders at the company's annual meeting yesterday.

He said the continued widening and strengthening of Athlone's product and customer base had also supported its strong operating margin against a background of rising raw material prices and the company expected to report a year of progress.