YORK shoe retailer Pavers has saved 150 jobs as it announces it has bought 14 stores off its troubled rival Barratts.

Bradford-based Barratts fell into administration last month for the third time in four years putting the future of 75 stores, 23 concessions and 1,035 staff at risk.

Pavers has this morning confirmed earlier reports that it has bought part of the Barratts business.

Based at Northminster Business Park, Pavers has acquired 14 Barratts stores located across Northern and Southern Ireland, London and the Channel Islands.

It appears York's Barratts store in Feasegate is not part of the deal. The 14 stores will add to Pavers' UK portfolio of 100, bringing total employee numbers to more than 1,200.

Pavers' managing director Stuart Paver said: "Pavers are happy to be able to secure the future of over 150 loyal employees especially just before Christmas and welcome them into the Pavers family.

"We are currently looking at another five to 10 stores and hope we can announce more positive news within the next few weeks.

"This acquisition will be the bridgehead that allows us to bring Pavers amazingly comfortable footwear to a large number of high streets over the next few years.”

York-based Pavers Shoes has continued to grow since it was founded in 1971 by Cathy Paver who still works full time in the company. Last month the company opened its 100th store in the newly constructed London Designer Outlet.

The business continues to challenge and seek new ways to thrive, launching a new website in September 2013, a TV channel Paversshoestv in April 2011, the only single product shopping channel in the world and successfully dominating the Home Shopping Catalogue market.

Pavers wishes to acknowledge they were assisted by Ernst & Young and Gordons Solicitors during this successful acquisition.