SCORES of jobs have been saved after 14 North-East branches of a photo processing chain were bought out of administration.

Shoe repair and keycutting chain Timpson has bought 187 Klick and Max Spielmann shops after parent company Bowie Castlebank Group called in administrators earlier this month.

The move has saved 545 jobs, including a number in the North-East, after branches in Blyth, in Northumberland, Byker, in Newcastle, Darlington, Harrogate, Newcastle, North Shields, in North Tyneside, Redcar, in east Cleveland, Skipton, in North Yorkshire, South Shields, in South Tyneside, two in Sunderland, Washington, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, and York were among those saved.

The shops bought by Timpson will be marketed under the Max fascia, a rebranding of the Max Spielmann name.

John Timpson, chairman of Timpson, said the addition of photo processing would bring a new dimension to the company.

He added: “The strength of our core shoe repair business has given us the chance to expand our reputation for unique customer care into another part of the high street.

We see this as a great opportunity to apply the successful Timpson culture to another service business.”