BUILDERS' merchants have enjoyed a record summer as high house prices and low interest rates created a strong demand for building materials.

With householders spending millions on improving their homes to add to the value of their properties, sales of building materials through merchants continue to be strong.

Government figures show that construction input in private housing repair maintenance and improvements (RMI) was up three per cent in the year to June 30.

Peter Worthington, regional conference chairman of the Builders Merchants Federation representing the North-west said many people were taking advantage of low interest rates to borrow against their mortgages and extend or enhance their properties to cash in on high prices.