An Ashby vets - whose history stretches back almost 150 years - has been bought by a partnership of UK veterinary practices.

Woodward Veterinary Practice, now based at the Ivanhoe Business Park, has been acquired up by Linnaeus, reports Insider Media.

Woodward Veterinary, which can trace its roots back to 1852, employs around 35 members of staff and operates from new premises which are three years old.

Their website says: "It has been our ambition for many years to move the practice to purpose built premises, with the need firmly in mind for much better facilities for our patients, clients and staff."

The Linnaeus Group operates from about 165 sites across the UK, employing in the region of 3,000 people.

Adam Croft and Dave Howes from JDC Corporate Finance acted as lead advisors to the shareholders during the sale, with Mills & Reeve acting in a legal capacity to the shareholders and Pinsent Masons acting for Linnaeus.

Croft said: "The veterinary industry is well documented as being a market that has been going through a period of consolidation for a number of years, but this transaction presented a unique set of challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the logistical issues faced with the lockdown, self-isolation and advisors working from home.

"This continues to illustrate that despite the uncertainty in the business world that deals can still be done."