NEW share options have been granted to a number of top executives at CRH, according to documents lodged with the stock exchange,

Chief executive Mr Don Godson has been granted options to acquire 200,000 shares at 565p a share. The options, granted for the nominal sum of £1, can be exercised between April 3rd, 1999 and April 2nd, 2006. With the new options, Mr Godson now has options to acquire a total of 659,925 CRH shares.

Mr Brian Hill, the managing director of CRH Mainland Europe, has been granted options to acquire 150,000 CRH shares at 565p a share exercisable up to April 2nd, 2006. The new options bring Mr Hill's total share options to 483,745.

Mr William O'Mahony, chief executive of CRH's US subsidiary, Oldcastle, has also been give options to acquire 150,000 shares at 565p a share, bringing his total share options to 582,084.

Group finance director Mr Harry Sheridan has been given options to acquire 150,000 shares at 565p, bringing his total share options to 431,049.

Options to acquire 35,000 share at 565p a share have been given Ms Angela Malone, bringing her total options to 60,318.

CRH shares closed yesterday at 563p.