TRAVEL cash and pawnbrokers The Money Shop has been the subject of a takeover deal, it has been confirmed.

Ramsden Holdings has announced it is taking over 18 of the chain’s locations, including its Blackburn and Chorley outlets.

Seventy staff will be transferring to the new Middlesbrough-based owner and the Ainsworth Street branch in Blackburn and Chorley’s Cleveland Street shop are set to be rebranded under the Ramsden name in the coming weeks.

A spokesman said the move supported their growth strategy for the coming years and leverage in the “significant investment” made by the firm in its IT systems staff recently.

While not previously represented in East Lancashire, Ramsdens has had offices in Preston and Bury.