John Raymond Transport, which celebrates 60 years in business next month, achieved a modest increase in profit last year.

For the year ending 30 September 2012, the company, with depots in Bridgend, Cannock and Swindon, reported a pre-tax profit of £42,000, on a turnover of £19.9m.

Director Jonathan Raymond, son of the company’s original founders, said it had replaced half its fleet during the period and was now operating a brand new fleet.

He acknowledged that its turnover had fallen by £872,000 compared with the previous year, but that profit “was more important”.

Raymond added: “It’s not a big profit, but in this day and age it’s a profit.”

The company is a member of transport consortium Harlequin Logistics (pictured) and he said its membership opened doors: “We treat it as a customer, but one we have a vested interest in. Harlequin can go out and tender to customers that individually we couldn’t because of the size.”