The deal sees WS sign a five-year partnership with Van Elle to provide heavy haulage operations as its fleet, transport management team and directly employed drivers move into a new division of WS.

WS has paid a total of £2.9m in cash for the assets being transferred and assumed operational management from May 1.

Van Elle Chief Executive Mark Cutler said: “This new partnership with WS Specialist Logistics is a logical initiative for the Group; releasing capital to invest in areas of greater return as we enter a long-awaited period of anticipated growth in our core markets.

“WS Specialist Logistics have been an excellent partner to the business for several years and we look forward to drawing on their expertise to further improve our transport operations whilst keeping the support of our fantastic, loyal in-house transport team and drivers that perform so well for us 24/7.”