DH MORRIS, the Cumbernauld-based electrical and mechanical engineering group, has reported a marginal im-provement in trading perform-ance after cutting its 400-plus payroll by nearly 10%.

The company, which has gained an enhanced media profile as shirt sponsor of Partick Thistle FC, saw pre-tax profits rise 27% in its most recent financial year, to (pounds) 178,000. However, turnover was flat at (pounds) 25.2m.

In the last few years the group has expanded its business in installing and maintaining petrol station signs across the UK with new contracts won by DRB Maintenance, the group's Hamilton-based subsidiary which joined forces with Morris five years ago to form one of Scotland's top three electrical engineering companies. Established in 1926, DH Morris trades primarily as a contractor to the construction industry.

DH Morris Group is co-owned by Eddie McMurray and finance director Alaster Robertson. In their newly-published annual report, for the year to June 30, the duo commented: ''The directors view this year's results as satisfactory given the challenging environment for trading. They are confident that the continued integration of past acquisitions and the consolidation of the west of Scotland operations (at refurbished headquarters at Cumbernauld) will produce improved results for the coming years.''

McMurray and Robertson were each paid (pounds) 117,500 last year, the accounts show. They also shared (pounds) 20,000 in dividends.