BOC, the industrial gases supplier, reported a strong start to its financial year despite a dip in sales in its UK gas business.

The company, which has major operations in Shoreham, Newhaven, Eastbourne and Crawley, said its first quarter turnover of £1.06 billion was 15 per cent higher than the same period last year, while profits before tax and exceptionals were ahead 16 per cent at £119.4 million.

Chief executive Tony Isaac said the results for the three months to December 31 had been buoyed by the rapid growth of its gases operations worldwide, with sales ahead by ten per cent at £815.4 million.

He said: "We will continue to take every opportunity to accelerate growth at the same time as impro- ving both operational and capital efficiencies."

Mr Isaac said the driving forces behind the growth included improved demand from Japan and north and south-east Asia.

However, weak manu- facturing output led to a decline in sales of some products, including liqu- ified gases, in the UK.