A WORCESTERSHIRE-based chain of pet stores has been taken over in a £5.16 million deal.

Wilsons Pet Centres, which began in Bromsgrove in 1993, has been taken over by Wynnstay - a national retail and agricultural supplies business. Since 1993 Wilsons had grown to include a chain of 10 pet superstores, with branches in Worcester - on the Shrub Hill retail park - Evesham, Malvern, Droitwich, Kidderminster, Northfield, Acocks Green, Stourbridge, Swadlincote and Bromsgrove.

As well as the usual pet care products, they offer services such as pet grooming, pet behaviour courses and pet insurance, and during recent years have sponsored your Worcester News Pet Idol competition.

The company employs 104 people on a full-time basis.

Bernard Harris, managing director of Wynnstay, said: "We have been extending Wynnstay's existing retailing activities into the high growth area of pet care products for some time now and, following the launch in the summer of our own dedicated pet store format, Just for Pets, the acquisition of Wilsons Pet Centres is the next logical step.

"Wilsons Pet Centres is a long-established, well-run chain in the West Midlands, with a reputation for efficient and friendly customer service.

"The senior management team at Wilsons Pet Centres will remain with the enlarged business, leading its development, and I believe that there are exciting growth opportunities ahead of us."

Wilsons Pet Centres will be renamed and rebranded as Just for Pets.