Peter Burks is appointed regional manager for the south west, overseeing six garden centres in the region.

Mr Burks will retain his position as general manager at Sanders Garden World in Somerset but, in his new role, will also oversee the running of five other centres in the region.

He will be responsible for supervising management at Wyevale Lelant Garden Centre near Hayle and Par Garden Centre, which are both in Cornwall, Jack's Patch Garden Centre in Bishopsteignton, Devon, Galton Garden Centre in Owermoigne, Dorset and Taunton Garden Centre in Somerset. All are part of the Garden Centre Group (formerly Wyevale).

Mr Burks said of his new position: "I am delighted to have been given the role as regional manager for the south west. I was involved in the development of Sanders Garden World in 2000 and was there for its launch in 2001 and am delighted that I'll be able to retain the position as manager of the site."

Mr Burks has worked with the Garden Centre Group since it took over Sanders Garden World in 2007.

He added: "I look forward to working with the other garden centres in the area and want to improve the plant offer and general customer experience on site."

Mr Burks, who has more than 30 years' experience in the industry also sits on the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) executive committee for the south west.

Garden Centre Group chief executive Nicholas Marshall commented: "Peter is a great asset to the Garden Centre Group. We wish him all the best in his new appointment."