INVESTMENT group Wassall has pulled out of the running to buy the Allied Carpets chain which has a site in Blackburn.

The group bid £72.5 million for Allied Carpets in August, but saw its offer trumped one month later by French carpets retailer Tapis Saint-Maclou.

Tapis Saint-Maclou's £84.2 million offer, valuing Allied shares at 93p each, was agreed by the Allied board.

Wassall said soon after that it would not increase its offer for Allied.

It said it would not post its offer documents to Allied, closing the door on any alternative to the Tapis Saint-Maclou bid.

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