Fencing prices shooting up

Timber shortages in the UK have left customers turning to the black market for fencing and paying up to four times the usual price.

With many DIY stores clean out of fencing panels and others selling damaged stock in an attempt to relieve the pressure of consumer demand some customers are paying up to £80 per panel.

Financial experts have claimed that the shortage is due to the fact that shipments of timber intended for the UK have been diverted to China and Dubai, where building firms pay over the odds for materials thanks to the booming economy. Coupled with this is the fact that the European timber harvests were smaller than usual due to a wet summer.

As well as diminishing supplies, there has also been a rise in demand, following the gale force winds Britain witnessed at the beginning of the year.

Hilary Baker, chief executive of the Fencing Contractors Association (FCA), said: "The FCA is working closely with its members and the industry to assist with this prolonged crisis but urges customers to be understanding of the problems and not to 'panic the prices up'."

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