A BUILDING services company in the south of the region has expanded into the North-West after acquiring a plumbing firm for more than £1m.

Shouksmiths, in York, has completed its acquisition of Keda Plumbing, in Bolton, and retained all 20 staff.

Keda was established in 1968 and operates throughout the North-West including Preston, Stockport and Manchester.

John Miller, managing director of Shouksmiths, said: "Our business plan identified that we needed to establish a permanent base in the North-West and we were introduced to Keda Plumbing at a time when the previous owners were looking to sell.

"What made them an attractive proposition to us was threefold - they have a very high-quality and committed workforce, a healthy future workload and their corporate culture fits exactly with ours."

Shouksmiths was set up in York in 1820 and provides plumbing, heating and specialist contract services for residential projects and industrial and commercial installations across the North and Midlands.