The owner of DIY chain B&Q said today it planned to create more than 1,200 new jobs through a major expansion of its trade supply arm Screwfix.

Alongside results showing a 24% rise in half-year profits to £439m, Kingfisher announced it will open 40 new Screwfix stores by the end of next January, 30 of which will be in a new smaller format.

As well as 1,000 new jobs at Screwfix, where the expansion will increase the number of stores to 215, another 230 jobs will come from the conversion of 29 former Focus stores into B&Qs. Five are already trading in their new fascia.