WHITBY Seafoods has landed a massive catch.

The private company, which employs 140 people in the North Yorkshire fishing port, has acquired the successful Northern Ireland operation Middleton Seafoods, for an undisclosed sum.

Middleton Seafoods, which employs 60 people, will continue to operate independently under its own brand name, without a separate holding company.

There will be no job losses at either of the ventures, promised Graham Whittle, managing director of Whitby Seafoods, which specialises in supplying premium quality frozen coated seafood to the UK market.

"Through the joining of these two companies, both become stronger and better able to deliver excellent value for money to our customers," he said.

The deal, in which Middleton Seafoods was advised by accountants Clive Owen & Company took about six months to complete.