Exercise of options etc.

James Halstead PLC
06 January 2006


JAMES HALSTEAD PLC

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS


James Halstead plc ('James Halstead'or the 'Company') announces that it has
today issued 44,000 ordinary shares of 10p each ('Ordinary Shares') in respect
of share options exercised under the James Halstead Group Share Option Plan
(1998).

The shares have been issued as a result of the exercise by Mr Geoffrey Halstead,
Chairman of the Company, of the following share options:

-   Options over 35,000 Ordinary Shares, which were granted on 7 May 1999 at an 
    exercise price of 202.5p per share; and

-   Options over 9,000 Ordinary Shares, which were granted in 25 October 2002 at 
    an exercise price of 259.33p per share.

The Company has been notified that Mr Halstead has today sold 25,800 Ordinary 
Shares at a price of 704p per share.

Following these transactions, Mr Halstead's shareholding has increased by 18,200
Ordinary Shares and he is now the beneficial owner of 1,037,845 Ordinary Shares,
representing approximately 4.09 per cent. of the issued share capital of the
Company.

In addition, the Company has been notified that the wife of Mr Gordon Oliver,
Finance Director of the Company, has today purchased 1,000 Ordinary Shares at a
price of 704p per share.  As a result, Mr Oliver is the beneficial owner of
19,752 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 0.08 per cent. of the issued
share capital of the Company.

The beneficial holdings of Mr Halstead and Mr Oliver noted above include the
holdings of their respective spouses.

Enquiries

James Halstead plc
Jack Whittaker
Tel: [phone]

Westhouse Securities LLP
Tim Feather
Tel: [phone]


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