CRH has completed the second phase of its share buy-back programme, returning a further EUR350m of cash to its shareholders.

Between 29 August and 18 October, 12.5m ordinary shares were repurchased on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Dublin at an average discount of 1.3 per cent to the volume weighted average price over the period.

This brings total cash returned to shareholders under the ongoing EUR1bn share buy-back programme to around EUR700m.

"The remaining portion of our buy-back programme is under active consideration and further details will be announced in due course," said the company in a statement.