Nationwide Crash Repair Centres, part of Perry Group, has purchased four accident repair centres from Pendragon for £3.7m cash.

Pendragon acquired the four outlets, in Cheltenham, Norwich, Portsmouth and Yeovil, as part of the Lex Retail purchase in March. The bodyshops, which last year turned over £9m, were not part of its future strategy.

John Wollatt, Perry Group chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have completed this acquisition, which is consistent with the group's strategy to grow Nationwide both organically and by acquisition. Further acquisitions are currently under negotiation.” The four repair centres takes the Nationwide network to 61 bodyshops.

It is expected to take turnover from £96m in 1999 to around £120m this year.