AINSCOUGH Crane Hire has strengthened its position as market leader with a swoop for a £15m turnover business north of the border.

The deal to buy Aberdeen-based James Jack Lifting Services will push Aincough's turnover over £100m for the first time.

The Wigan-based company, which was sold last year by the founding Ainscough family for £225m, turned over £88m last year.

Established in 1970, James Jack Lifting Services specialises in crane hire, haulage, stevedoring and warehousing. It has four depots covering north east and central Scotland.

Funding for the deal was provided by Bank of Scotland Corporate. Bank of Scotland also financed last year's buyout.

Ainsough managing director Neil Partridge said: "James Jack Lifting Services is a good business and will be an excellent complement to Ainscough." He said the business would be run independently for the short term.

Before this deal, Ainscough's presence in Scotland was limited to three depots, with none north of Falkirk.

Neal Edwards, of BoSIF, said the deal was a sign of the management team's ambition to consolidate Ainscough's position as the UK's market leader in crane hire.

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