Richard Debbage has been appointed regional manager for the North West for The Garden Centre Group.
Mr Debbage will oversee the running of 10 garden centres in the North and West of the country, from Telford in Shropshire up to Leyland in Lancashire.

He has worked for the group for 25 years, starting as a management trainee in 1985 and previously working as a regional manager for 13 years. After a short break two years ago he returned to the company to run Wyevale Hereford Garden Centre.

Chief executive Nicholas Marshall said: "I am delighted that Richard has returned to the post of regional manager. He is a plantsman, who started work as a garden centre trolley boy, which is an inspiration to all young people starting out their careers with the Garden Centre Group.

"Richard's experience is invaluable as we continue to strive at all our garden centres for horticultural excellence."