National Tyres is opening a further 10 branches this month as part of an expansion programme.

The 10 new branches are a group acquisition from Broadway Retail Ltd.

Alan Revie, chairman, said: "It is a testament to the strength and professionalism of our business that we are able to expand at a time when so many retailers are contracting. It also represents a significant acceleration of our growth plans, having already added eight new branches to our network in the last 12 months alone.’

The fitting centres, in Battersea, Byfleet, Croydon, Grays, Henley on Thames, Kingston, Orpington, Reading, Slough and Woking bring National’s UK branch network to 240.

The company has seven more branch openings planned which it expects to be fully operational by the end of the year, bringing the branch total to 247.

National will continue with their expansion strategy which commenced last summer, and continue to seek further sites in another 80 locations.