CONSERVATORY roofing firm Ultraframe has snapped up two specialist firms in deals costing up to £1.8million.

The Clitheroe-based company, which employs more than 600 locally, has bought Robinson Design & Build and Collis Structural Design, both at Southampton.

The businesses specialise in carrying out glazing work for customers such as garden centres and have worked on projects including the Royal Botanical Gardens in Glasgow and the Tomorrow's World Dreamhouse.

David Moore, chief executive of Ultraframe, said: "These two business have excellent teams, products and client bases which complement our commercial division.

"The combination of our patented roofing systems with Robinson's and Collis's experience in the commercial glazed structural market will enable us to more rapidly exploit opportunities in this specialist sector."

Ultraframe is paying an initial £800,000 with a further £1million payable on the achievement of performance targets over a two year period. In May the firm announced a 30 per cent leap in profits to £10.5million, with sales for the six months ending March 31 rising to £35.9million.

Shares in the firm have recently passed the £6 mark. The shares first began trading on the stock market at £1.60 in October 1997.