Jobs at a number of Sussex garden centres are safe despite a £111 million takeover.

Wyevale Garden Centres, the UK's largest specialist garden centre group, has snapped up its biggest rival, Country Gardens.

The 400p-a-share cash and share deal will see Wyevale take control of the UK's number two specialist garden centre group, adding 39 sites to its own group.

The Country Gardens sites are located mainly around the South and South East of England, including Brighton, Worthing, Hastings, Chichester, Pulborough and Handcross.

Brian Evans, chairman of Wyevale, called the buy a "strong strategic fit" which would reinforce Wyevale's position as "the leading UK specialist garden centre operator" with a total 119 garden centres.

Wyevale already has centres at Worthing Crawley, Hailsham and Lewes.

In Worthing, where both firms have a presence, there are no plans to close either garden centre.

Following the deal, Wyevale plans to bring Country's margins up to nearer its own higher levels and to expand its current product range.

Wyevale is also aiming to nurture £1.5 million a year in savings from the combination, arguing there was "significant scope" for cost savings in accounting, administration and buying.

Richard Westmacott, chairman of Country Gardens, said: "Country Gardens has a successful retailing formula, a unique property portfolio and, above all, a highly motivated and trained staff.

"This has all contributed to the company's substantial growth from a start-up to its current value of £111 million."

Country, which grew from a seedling 15 years ago, listed on the Alternative Investment Market in 1995 before reporting on the main market two years later.

Robert Hewitt, chief executive of Wyevale, said there would only be a few job losses from Country's 1,000-plus staff following the deal.

The staff affected will be the 53 employed at Country's Berkshire headquarters.

Wyevale is planning to transfer these head office operations to its Hereford base.