B&Q snaps up doomed Focus DIY branches

More than 30 stores belonging to collapsed DIY chain Focus are being bought by B&Q, it was revealed today — but there is no guarantee that staff will keep their jobs.

And there is still no word on the fate of the other 144 stores in the group, which employs nearly 4,000 people and went into administration on Thursday after running up debts of £147 million. Kingfisher, owner of the B&Q chain, says it is paying £23 million for "up to 31 leasehold properties".

Administrators from Ernst & Young refused to identify the stores involved.

However, staff are being told of the deal.

It is not known if it involves any of the sites in the West Midlands, which includes stores in Stafford Street in Wolverhampton, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield and Dudley Road, Kingswinford.

There are also stores in Aldridge, Brownhills, on the Walsall Retail Park and in Longbridge, Birmingham.