NORTH-East leisure group Vimac Leisure has reeled in a famous fish restaurant in a multi-million pound acquisition.

Vimac, based in Boldon, South Tyneside, has bought Trenchers restaurant in Whitby, adding it to a growing number of venues in the company's stable.

Trenchers was founded by previous owner Terry Foster and his family in 1980 with the remit of being an upmarket fish and chip restaurant.

Vimac, which has venues in Durham, Chester-le-Street, Glasgow, Hexham, Rotherham and North Yorkshire, has no plans to change the character of Trenchers.

But managing director Paul Mackings said he hoped Vimac's industry and management expertise would make Trenchers more successful.

He said: "Trenchers is a real institution and attracts well over 1,000 customers on busy summer days, from right across the country.

"We knew the quality and potential of the business, so when it came on the market, we moved extremely fast to secure the deal."