THE Malvern branch of a national DIY store is one of 31 stores to be bought by the owner of B&Q after the company was placed in administration.

The Focus DIY store in Spring Lane, Malvern, which employs 25 people, has been bought by Kingfisher plc, which also owns the ScrewFix brand.

The company bought the stores for £23 million and plans to refit the vacant properties and open them as new B&Q stores later in the year.

As we reported last week, administrators Ernst and Young announced closing down sales before the weekend at Focus stores, including the store in Malvern.

The administrators found buyers for 55 of the chain’s stores, but last week refused to say if the deal included Malvern.

The remaining stores will close and staff will be made redundant.

Simon Allport, from Ernst and Young, said that although they had been successful in securing up to 900 jobs from the sale of 55 stores, finding a buyer for the remaining stores was not possible.

Mr Allport previously said Focus DIY struggled due to low consumer confidence and a very weak housing market.

In a statement earlier this month, Focus said: “Following notification of an event of default under the senior credit facility, and a realisation there were no alternatives that could be explored any further, Focus directors have concluded that to protect the interests of creditors they have no choice but to seek protection through filing a notice of intent to appoint administrators.”