The decision to reopen comes as house builders predict rising orders as the housing recovery starts to take hold.

Hanson has also put on extra shifts at works in Kirton in Nottinghamshire and Desford in Leicestershire.

Last week the Enquirer reported that Hanson was also aiming to crank up production at its Thermalite block factory as quoted delivery dates for lightweight block extended to up to three months.

Claughton, which has operated for more than 100 years, was shut down in 2010 due to falling demand.

Hanson spokesman David Weeks said the decision to resume brickmaking would see the works open by the end of the year as the plant was geared up for production again.

He said: “The first quarter of this year was fairly quiet, but since April demand for bricks and blocks has picked up, fuelled principally by the upturn in private sector house building.

“The entire industry is coming under pressure from this welcome, but unexpected hike in demand after five years of volume decline and production cut-backs and we are looking to increase manufacturing capacity as soon as we can to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ requirements.

“We always said when the time was right we’d go back there. We’ve looked at forward orders and talked to house builders and we’re pretty sure it’s a worthwhile investment.”

Brick deliveries are still well below peak but Government figures for the three months to May show deliveries were double the quantity in the preceding quarter.