Britain’s housebuilding bounce-back helped cement the biggest rise in construction output for more than a year last month in the latest sign of a “new dawn” for the sector.

House building activity in Britain fell at its fastest rate for two years last month as construction firms battled persistent rain, figures revealed today.

The downturn in UK manufacturing showed signs of easing today after new figures revealed a rebound from July’s “disastrous” performance.

The recovery in the British construction industry strengthened in February as activity surged to an eight-month high, boosting hopes that the UK's economy will return to growth.

Growth in the UK services sector slowed today as businesses warned of a worrying lack of consumer demand before the key Christmas trading period.

A sharp slowdown in housebuilding in the UK sapped construction growth during August, an industry survey showed today.

Worries over the fragile recovery among UK manufacturers intensified today after growth slowed to a nine-month low in August.

British manufacturing output grew at its fastest pace in almost 16 years during April amid signs of recovering exports, an industry survey showed today.

British manufacturers took another step on the road to recovery last month after figures today showed the fastest rate of expansion since October 1994.

A decline in UK factory activity during September today fuelled fears that the British manufacturing sector's recovery is running out of steam.

Wolves’ unbeaten start to the season came to an end as third-placed Reading claimed a 3-0 victory at Molineux in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Bristol City 0 Hull 1

Bristol City 2 Crystal Palace 1 (after extra time, Bristol City win 4-2 on aggregate)

IF Bristol City begin next season in the Premier League, much of it will be due to manager Gary Johnson’s flashes of inspiration in the early hours.

Crystal Palace 1 Bristol City 2

Tony Pulis steered his Stoke side to a 0-0 draw against Leicester which secured the Potters promotion to the Barclays Premier League and relegated the Foxes to Coca-Cola League One.

Bristol City 1 Middlesbrough 2

MARK SCHWARZER was Middlesbrough’s FA Cup hero last night as he pulled off two penalty saves to help the Premiership side survive a major scare against Bristol City.

Jermaine Pennant has warned Theo Walcott of the potential pitfalls that lie ahead after the youngster completed his £12m (€17.5m) move from Southampton to Arsenal.

Southend moved into the Coca-Cola League Two automatic promotion places with a 2-0 win at Cambridge.

DUBLINER Stephen Browne is hoping his magical 62 in last weekend’s Texbond Open, which he described as “the best round of my professional career” will stand him in good stead for today’s European Challenge Tour’s JJB Sports North West Challenge in Manchester.

West Ham midfielder David Noble has bucked the trend of departures from Wimbledon by heading for the Dons on trial.

FORMER Ireland striker Niall Quinn, now living in Co Kildare, may have a central role to play in the Smurfit European Open beginning at The K-Club tomorrow!

RELEGATED West Ham announced yesterday that they are releasing 10 senior players, including Paolo di Canio, Lee Bowyer, Gary Breen and Nigel Winterburn.

Relegated West Ham announced today that they are releasing 10 senior players, including Paolo di Canio, Lee Bowyer and Nigel Winterburn.

Here is the full club-by-club list of transfer deals completed during the calendar month of January.

West Ham have signed midfielder David Noble from Arsenal on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Glenn Roeder was tonight in a race against time to finalise his second eleventh-hour swoop of a frantic transfer deadline day at Upton Park.

England 0 China 0