STONE masons business H L Perfitt has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by the East of England Co-operative Society.

The Diss-based company produces funeral masonry, complementing the Co-op's region-wide funeral services, together with architectural masonry, fireplaces, marble and limestone for bathrooms and luxury kitchen worksurfaces.

It employs 42 staff based at its main showroom and workshop in Diss and smaller workshops and showrooms in Ipswich,Bungay and North Walsham.

Doug Field, executive officer – finance and technology for the East of England Co-op, said: 'We are constantly looking at opportunities to expand our business, and H L Perfitt is an excellent fit with the society's family of businesses.

'H L Perfitt offers a high quality bespoke service, which will be a great addition to the society offering a new service to our members and customers.'

Richard Rackham, the owner of H L Perfitt, which was originally established in 1842, added: 'We are delighted that we have been able to find a new owner for the company in the East of England Co-operative, a local ethical organisation, which will help grow and develop our business.'

The H L Perfitt name and brand will be retained, and will add to the society's specialist retail area, which also includes around 30 funeral branches across the East of England.

Perfitt's work includes stonemasonry for the Ministry of Defence, including engraving the names of servicemen and women killed in conflict on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.