The owner of the B&Q DIY chain has agreed to buy up to 31 stores from Focus for £23m.

On Thursday, Focus went into administration after its business was hit by the depressed housing market and retail slump.

Administrators said the deal with Kingfisher represented an "exceptional outcome" for the creditors of the firm.

Focus operates nearly 180 stores in the UK, which are continuing to trade, and employs almost 4,000 staff.