BUILDING PROFITS: Builders' merchant Travis Perkins saw revenue rise to £4.84m for the year ending December 31 2012.

The firm, which also trades as City Plumbing, Keyline, Tile Giant, Wickes and BSS, and has branches in Middlesbrough and Bishop Auckland, recorded increased operating profits of £327m. Net debt fell to £452m.

AXMINSTER BLOW: Hundreds of jobs could be lost after Axminster Carpets applied to go into administration.

The firm employs about 400 staff in east Devon, and said it would continue trading while various rescue packages were identified.

HOME FEES: A North-East lawyer has called on families to claim care home fees before the Government's deadline.

Nicola Dalzell, from Tilly Bailey and Irvine, in Stockton and Hartlepool, said people who paid for care home fees between April 1 2011 and March 31 2012 could be entitled to reclaim fees from the NHS if the primary reason for care was physical or mental health needs.

She said: “Even if the person the claim relates to is no longer alive, the family could be entitled to reclaim the money spent on the care home fees.”