Top 50 Indie Harry Tuffins has agreed to sell its network of forecourts and convenience stores to the Midcounties Co-operative Society.

The independent retailer, which is run by the Delves family, operates 10 businesses in Powys, Flintshire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire.

The network includes eight petrol stations plus one forecourt in Malpas, which is currently non-operational, but has planning for redevelopment to bring back into petrol retailing use.

Midcounties Co-op will purchase the business to grow its estate within its trading heartland, and is keen to build on the success enjoyed by Harry Tuffins with a key focus on maintaining the strong community associations the independent retailer has built up over the past 50 years.

Midcounties chief executive Ben Reid said: “We have plans to significantly invest in the estate but customers and our new colleagues can rest assured we fully appreciate how much this unique group of stores are cherished by their local communities.

“As a member-owned Society with values of democracy, openness, equality and social responsibility, we believe the fairer way we do business is an excellent match with the family ethos the company has long adhered to.”

The jobs of all 450 workers have been secured across the 10 sites in Churchstoke, Machynlleth and Knighton, all in Powys; Holywell in Flintshire; Craven Arms, Bishops Castle, Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer, all in Shropshire; and Lydney and Coleford, both in Gloucestershire.

A spokesperson for the Delves family said: “We are confident that in The Midcounties Co-operative we have found someone who shares our values and understands these stores have a special place in the community, and they will continue that tradition.”

Harry Tuffins was advised by property specialist Barber Wadlow.