Nationwide Accident Repair Centres, the bodyshop division of the Perry Group, has acquired the Bodywork accident repair business in Daventry, Northants.

The group now owns 56 sites across the country making it the biggest bodyshop network in the UK. Ken Lane, Nationwide managing director, said other repair centre acquisitions were under negotiation and the company would have a further 10 sites by the end of September.

“We are strongly looking in the South-east for expansion opportunities, but we are also looking at sites all over the UK to fit in with our strategic plan,” he said. “Last year we turned over in excess of £100m and we are looking to increase this all the time. We are looking at gaps in our network and appropriate businesses that would make suitable acquisitions.”