Portslade bargain clothing firm QS Group has secured 16 new stores in towns across the Midlands and the north of England in a £900,000 deal.

It bought the leaseholds, fixtures and fittings of the Bright Essentials shops from Valco Stores in locations including Liverpool, Doncaster and Mansfield.

The Bright Essentials current stock was also purchased.

QS Group now boasts 188 shops across the country. It had 1,750 employees before buying the Bright Essentials shops.

Chairman Tony Dignum said: "This portfolio extends further the current QS geographical coverage and provides an excellent platform for the future growth of the business."

The acquisition is further proof of QS's intentions to create a national chain. It added 29 stores in the South-West and Wales to its portfolio when it bought budget clothes trailer Richleys for £875,000 last December.

Finance director Eric Holes said: "We believe the QS formula will work nationwide and we intend to take it nationwide."

The company would continue to aim for growth but Mr Holes would not say whether further major purchases were planned.

"We certainly intend to expand the business through whatever is the appropriate method"

Recent results suggest QS Group has the money to continue on the acquisition trail. Earlier this year it reported a 97 per cent jump in profits for the year.

It made £2.15 million compared to £1.09 million in the previous year.

In June the firm announced sales were up 22 per cent against the previous year, with a like for like sales increase of four per cent.

The Bright Essentials stores are not expected to contribute to earnings in the current financial year.