Retailer Roys has marked its takeover of Highway Garden and Leisure with the appointment of a new nursery manager.

Roys, which this week completed the multi-million pound deal to buy the business in Framingham Pigot from retiring founder Joe High, has appointed Mark White to the post. He had previously worked for Charisma Nurseries in Swainsthorpe.

Ed Roy, managing director of the EDP Top 100 business, said it wanted to move quickly to insure that the reputation for horticultural excellence built up by former owners Joe and Janet High over many decades was maintained.

'I am delighted that Mark, has chosen to join us,' Mr Roy said. 'He is a local nurseryman with a vast amount of experience and is well placed to make sure that our plant production operations and high level of customer satisfaction go from strength to strength.

'We are looking forward to building on the reputation of our exciting restaurant and café with the emphasis firmly remaining on home-cooked food prepared from produce sourced locally. The aquatics department activity continues at a pace with the new seasons stocking of coldwater species well under way.'

He said that on the fashion front, the introduction of new ranges such as Joules and Hunter would bring added quality and it intended to increase the selection of gift ideas such as Portmeirion, Burgon and Ball and Nobile Glassware.

'Our customers will also continue to enjoy great products and service from our Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Fudgez Fudgery concessions,' Mr Roy added. 'We will be working hard in the lead-up to Mother's Day and Easter to fully restock Highway and new ranges, fixtures and fittings have started to arrive daily.'