BUSINESS POST today said half-year profits rose 25 per cent after the Royal Mail rival claimed a greater slice of the collection market.

The Slough-based company said its mail operation, which picks up and sorts post ahead of delivery by Royal Mail, increased its market share by volume collected to 13 per cent, compared with 11 per cent six months earlier.

As a result, operating profits from its UK Mail operation rose 30.2 per cent to £5.6m and helped group pre-tax profits hit £6m in the six months to September 30.

The performance by UK Mail offset a five per cent drop in profits at the company's parcels arm.

Companies such as Business Post have been growing as companies turn their backs on Royal Mail, following liberalisation of the postal market.

Business Post said today it was less exposed to fluctuations in levels of economic activity, as some 70 per cent of its mail volume was based on regular statements or statutory notifications.

The company said the performance of its parcels arm had been encouraging, but the economic environment meant it was cautious about the second half. As a result it will look for efficiency improvements, including a 10 per cent reduction in its vehicle fleet and a 10 per cent cut in agency labour.

The business-to-business element of the parcel operation saw revenues growth of 6.1 per cent in the half year, while business-to-consumer revenues were down 2.7 per cent.

It shares opened four per cent higher today.

Seymour Pierce stockbrokers described today's results as `very positive' and said it continued to look for full-year pre-tax profits of £16.9m.