CONSTRUCTION group Taylor Woodrow has gatecrashed the marriage of housebuilders Bryant and Beazer with a £523m bid for Bryant.

The move follows York-based Persimmon revealing it was also interested in making an offer for Beazer.

Woodrow, which made two conditional moves for the Solihull-based builder last week, posted the bid just two hours before Bryant shareholders were due to vote on whether the company's merger with Beazer should go ahead.

Dr Robert Hawley, Woodrow's chairman, said a deal would create the UK's fifth largest housebuilder with 6,000 homes a year and a turnover of around £845m.

''This marriage will create a quality national housebuilder and would be a significant step in our strategy to become a leading player in the UK housing sector," he said.

''The addition will be an excellent strategic fit.''

The updated offer from Woodrow would provide Bryant shareholders with more cash than in the previous conditional bid and values each Bryant share at approximately 195p.

The move by Woodrow is the latest twist in a hectic few days in the housebuilding sector.

Bryant and Beazer announced plans last month for a ''merger of equals'' in a deal which would create a new company called Domus.