Mubasher: UK construction activity recorded a gain of 0.6% in the third quarter, data released on Monday showed.

The growth, reversing a drop of 1.2% in the second quarter, was driven by a 1.4% rise in new work in the period between July and September, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Most new work sectors, including private new housing and private commercial construction, drove the growth in the reported three-month period.

However, a decline of 0.8% in repair and maintenance work offset the new work growth.

However, during September alone, construction output fell by 0.2% month-on-month, owing to a 2.1% drop of repair and maintenance, whereas new work orders rose by 0.7%.

By 11:11 am GMT, the GBP/USD pair rose by 0.43% to $1.2829, as the EUR/GBP pair fell by 0.27% to GBP 0.8601.