Brick manufacturers in Britain are struggling to keep up with increasing construction demand, which has grown for four consecutive quarters, according to an industry trade group. Material shortages are leading to rising production costs and delayed orders, which could hinder growth in the construction sector.

Builders in Britain are facing a shortage of bricks amid a dramatic rise in demand for new homes, industry analysts have said.

The shortage of bricks was caused by a slowdown in manufacturing, as suppliers mothballed kilns during a drop in sales during the recession. It was taking "some time" to resume production at previous levels following the "uplift" in demand, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), a trade association.

The warning came as the FMB published its "state of trade" survey for the first three months of 2014. The lack of materials risks hindering the ability of construction firms to keep pace with new orders, the report said, as workloads and employment in the construction industry increased for the fourth successive quarter. FMB chief executive Brian Berry said rising building costs and material shortages were cause for "serious concern," according to the Telegraph.

"Small house builders report that brick manufacturers are asking them to wait until the beginning of 2015 for new orders of bricks," Berry said. "If this problem continues, SME house builders may be forced to build with alternative materials such as render or risk stalling sites for the rest of this year."