CLOTHING retailer New Look yesterday acquired some of the UK's most prominent high street sites by unveiling a deal for 34 former Littlewoods stores.

The deal will give it space for accessories, menswear and childrenswear as well as womenswear.

Privately-owned New Look bought the outlets from Associated British Foods - the owner of budget retailer Primark - which acquired 120 Littlewoods stores in July.

Carl McPhail, of New Look, said: "The chance to acquire stores of this size comes up rarely and allows us to respond to customer demand for new ranges and even greater choice."

New Look is the UK's third largest retailer of women's clothes after Marks & Spencer and Next and has 541 stores in the UK, including Darlington, Middlesbrough, Durham and Sunderland, and 211 in France trading as Mim

The Littlewoods chain decided to sell its stores to focus on its home and online shopping business. Primark is to keep about 40 stores and sell the rest to rivals.