Medical software firm Torex said it was benefiting from increased spending

in the health sector as it delivered record interim results.

The group won a major contract for software to send laboratory results direct to a GP's desktop from the NHS Information Authority in March.

Increased demand for upgraded financial billing systems drove growth in its European operations in Germany, Holland and Switzerland.

Pre-tax profits before one-off costs across the group were £10.8 million on sales of £77.6 million, up 25 per cent.