Wickes Building Supplies has bought 13 Focus Group stores out of administration – but administrators Ernst & Young refused to say where they were located.

The DIY chain, which has several stores in the West Midlands as well as a distribution centre in Tamworth, collapsed into administration earlier this month.

Ernst & Young joint administrator Simon Allport said: “We are delighted to secure a sale for these stores and to save the jobs of all 345 associated employees.  

”We continue to trade from all 178 Focus stores in the UK an are in detailed discussions with a number of interested parties to seek further sales across the store portfolio.”