Portmeirion posts rise in profits amid hopes for Jubilee

Profits at the ceramics maker Portmeirion have risen by a fifth and the company is hoping the Queen's Diamond Jubilee will boost its business further this year.

Pre-tax profits rose by 21% to £6.3m.

The chairman of the company, Dick Steele, said 2012 had got off to a slower start than last year - particularly in Italy, its fifth largest market.