AEROSPACE and defence group Cobham said the civil aviation market was picking up as it posted a 7.8 per cent rise in first half pre-tax profits to £51.8m.

The company, whose HQ is in Dorset, said there were signs of increased opportunities emerging in the civil aircraft business and the US defence market had remained buoyant.

Cobham said its order book had risen 34.7 per cent to £528.3m on a 19.6 per cent rise in revenues to £461.5m.

It said strong US demand in aerospace systems and its Chelton avionics business group had driven growth, although second-half trading was expected to be stronger than in the first half. Shares closed down 74p at 1378p.