Two directors of CRH have made substantial paper profits after exercising options over shares at well below the current market price.

Chief executive, Mr Don Godson, bought 20,000 shares at an option price of 196.74p and, with CRH shares in the market at 837p, has made a paper profit of £128,000. Mr Godson now holds more than 420,000 shares.

Finance director, Mr Harry Sheridan, bought 50,000 shares at an option price of 355p and has made a paper profit of more than £250,000. Following the purchase, Mr Sheridan's stake in CRH has risen to almost 625,000 shares.