Royal & SunAlliance has denied claims that it is negotiating to acquire its fifth wholly-owned accident repair centre, as part of the Project Storm initiative.

The insurer, who owns bodyshops in Leeds, Birmingham, Luton and Glasgow, said it was “watching and seeing” potential expansion opportunities, but it “would not be rushed into opening any more sites”.

An internal source had claimed the insurer intended to buy into a large bodyshop in the Coventry-Rugby area.

An RSA spokesman said the four centres, branded Royal & SunAlliance Accident Repairs, were “more or less” at full capacity after a managed build up in work volumes.