Sussex construction company Llewellyn has been sold in a £16 million deal.

The firm, which dates back to the end of the 19th Century, has been bought by property group Rok.

Exeter-based Rok, which provides construction, property development and facilities management services, said the deal was subject to shareholder approval.

Privately-owned Llewellyn has its headquarters in Eastbourne with depots in Brighton, London and Milton Keynes. It currently employs about 650 people and has property and construction plant assets of £21.1 million.

The deal includes a £4 million payment into the Llewellyn staff pension fund.

Garvis Snook, chief executive of Rok, said there would be some job losses as a result of the takeover but could not give details about numbers.

He said he would be speaking to staff in the next few weeks to keep them abreast of how each division and department would be affected by the change.

"Job losses will be minimal but there will also be job opportunities as the enlarged company develops."

He added the deal would bring the company one step closer to becoming a leading provider of regionally-based property solutions across southern England and eventually across the UK.

"In Llewellyn we have found an acquisition which is an excellent strategic fit with Rok's existing operations and provides the platform to expand our activities throughout southern England," he said.

"It reflects our strategy of increasing the geographic breadth of the group."

The deal will be financed by £6 million of new shares and new bank borrowing.

The acquisition came as Rok reported a 47 per cent rise in pre-tax profits in the six months to June 30, to £1.8 million.

Turnover rose 20 per cent to £66.8 million.

The interim dividend to shareholders is 1.6p, up from 1.5p.