Jobs saved after £3.5m Apollo rescue

Trouble-hit gas and electrical store Apollo 2000 has been saved, administrators KPMG have revealed.

The firm has stores in the Black Country and Staffordshire.

It has been bought for more than £3.5 million by East Anglia-based retailer, Hughes Electrical.

Around 180 jobs were lost when Apollo 2000 went into administration last month.

But it has been revealed the buyout will see trading resume in eight of the former 12 Apollo 2000 stores under the new parent company shortly after Easter, including branches in West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Cannock.

Around a dozen jobs will be created in each store, which will trade under the Apollo 2000 name, with former staff invited back.

Managing director of Hughes Electrical, Robert Hughes, said: "We have long admired Apollo 2000 as like us they have well trained and experienced staff who put the customer needs first."

Will Wright, director at KPMG, added: "We are delighted to have concluded this sale which we hope will see the well respected Apollo 2000 brand live on.

"The transaction does not impact on the arrangements in place for the small number of customers who were affected by the firm's insolvency."