A company that hires out portable toilets and showers for events and shows has been acquired by a new owner, with plans to diversify and grow the business.

Former waste management boss, Ed Best, has acquired Blackburn's North West Portable Toilet Company Ltd from founding shareholders Alan Bretherton and Jacqueline Aspin, for an undisclosed sum.

The company, which trades as Portable Toilet Company, provides luxury toilet trailers and shower trailers for a range of music concerts, weddings, sporting events and agricultural shows.

It’s Mr Best's first major business-owning venture having spent the last 10 years as a regional manager for recycling and waste management firm Suez.

Mr Best said: “When the opportunity to acquire the business from Alan and Jacqueline came up it seemed like one that was too good to miss.

"I’m already loving working with our small, dedicated team and servicing our fantastic clients across the region.

“Using my experience from the recycling and waste management sector, I’m also looking at ways to diversify the business and we’ve identified septic tank servicing as a big opportunity and one that’s still aligned with the core business.”

The corporate team at law firm Harrison Drury advised Mr Best on the acquisition, which was partly backed by asset finance arranged by David Houghton at Dealer Net Finance.

Associate solicitor in the corporate team at Harrison Drury, Timothy Grover, said: “We’re delighted to have advised Ed on acquiring the business.

"This represents a new chapter in his life and career and we’re proud to have helped make it possible for him.

"I’m sure he will continue to build on the company’s success to date.”

The portable loo company was founded in 2016 and has provided toilet and shower hire services for events including the Royal Lancashire Show, Great Eccleston Show and Cumbria Steam Show.

Sporting clubs like Lancashire Cricket are also among the company’s client base.