The group confirmed its making web sites and gross sales offices are continuing to function all over the second lockdown, though it included a note of warning amid likely even more steps to manage the pandemic and financial uncertainty.

It declared yet another interim dividend payout to investors of 70p a share, on best of the 40p a share paid out in September.

Alongside one another, the payouts switch the 110p a share last divi for 2019 that was postponed at the starting of the disaster.

Persimmon’s recently appointed main govt Dean Finch, who took on the purpose at the finish of September, stated: “Persimmon continues to perform robustly despite the significant problems offered by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are at this time on study course to supply a very good end result for 2020.”

The group included: “We are perfectly organized for this second lockdown and go on to do the job with our subcontractors and supply chain to sustain the group’s functions.

“We continue to be conscious, even so, of the likely for even more disruption from added Government-mandated steps to manage the pandemic and the effect of ongoing uncertainty on the Uk economy.”

Shares fell 5.2pc to £26.45.