IT recruiter SThree reported an increase in first-half profit and said it was upbeat on future prospects.

Pre-tax profit for the six months to 31 May rose to £12.45m, from £8.9m a year ago. Turnover rose to £178m, from £143.5m.

The number of permanent placements in the period rose to 3,475, from 2,633 a year earlier.

Chief executive Russell Clements said: “We remain confident that the first half positions us well to make further progress for the year as a whole.”