Burdens, a supplier of utility and civil engineering products, has sold part of its business to builders merchant Wolseley.
The £30m deal, involving 22 branches and 600 of Burdens' employees, will see the branches run as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wolseley UK, while retaining the Burdens brand name.

Wolseley said Burdens' product range would "complement [Wolseley company] Drain Center's product proposition offering, providing customers with more choice". It added that Wolseley would now also have the opportunity to build on its position in the utilities market and gain one of the leading roles in the underground drainage sector.

Wolseley UK managing director Steve Ashmore said: "We believe the utilities market, particularly the water industry, offers many growth opportunities, and this purchase would put us in a great position in that market.

"The deal is also in line with Wolseley UK's strategy to hold leading market positions in all of its businesses."

Burdens chief executive Jeremy Burden added that Wolseley would "provide Burdens with the level of focus it requires to realise its full potential in the market".