UK housing market fears as Marshalls and Purplebricks shares slide

Problems at landscaping supplier and online estate agent prompt share dips at housebuilders

A profit warning from the UK driveways to roofing firm Marshalls and a gloomy outlook from the online estate agent Purplebricks, which is fighting for its survival, have prompted sharp falls in their share prices and spooked the wider housing sector.

A day before its annual investor meeting, Marshalls, which produces landscaping, building and roofing products, said like-for-like sales had fallen by 14% year on year to 227m in the four months to 30 April. Including the acquisition of the pitched roof maker Marley a year ago, sales rose 12%.