Melksham-based Avon Rubber says its full-year result will be comfortably ahead of market expectations as trading in the second half of the financial year has continued to be strong.

The group is due to announce its results for the financial year to September 30 on Wednesday, November 19.

In a statement the group, which has its corporate offices at Hampton Park West and includes Avon Dairy Solutions and Avon Protection, said: "Avon is pleased to report that trading in the second half of the financial year has continued to be strong.

"Currency headwinds have also reduced since the trading update made on 5 August 2014. The Board therefore expects that the full year result will be comfortably ahead of current market expectations.

"In Protection & Defence, in the second half of the financial year we have achieved a richer sales mix than previously expected, driven predominantly by a Middle Eastern order that we were able to ship earlier than anticipated.

"Trading in the Dairy business has been at a level ahead of the previous year, as we expected it would be, with the innovative Cluster Exchange service continuing to make excellent progress in both North America and Europe.

"The group has driven a strong conversion of profits into cash, including accelerated payments from a major customer ahead of its financial year-end; net cash on 30 September 2014 is expected to be approximately £2.9m, compared with net debt of £10.9m on 30 September 2013."