HEREFORD'S Wyevale garden centre has been sold to the UK's third-largest largest company in the sector.

The Blue Diamond Group will take over a further six centres from Wyevale Garden Centres, meaning they will have 36 stores nationwide.

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, said: “I went back to Wyevale Garden Centres to look for only a couple more centres and came out with six.

"Geographically all the centres are a perfect fit and enable us to deliver our full Blue Diamond proposition. We look forward to working with our new colleagues across the centres and welcoming them into the Blue Diamond family.

"I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Anthony and the team at Wyevale Garden Centres who during all acquisitions have been supportive, thoughtful and professional throughout.”

Blue Diamond will make further comment in due course, but the sale of the centres are expected to be completed in September and no job cuts are expected.