British high street fashion chain New Look group has purchased 34 stores from the Littlewoods chain owned by retail group Associated British Foods. New Look is looking to boost its retail space to 2.4 million square feet by March 2006 from 1.6 million square feet last year.

"This is a great deal and enables us to bring the New Look brand to more customers and reinforce our position as the third largest women's retailer in the country," said chief executive Phil Wrigley.

Earlier this year, New Look withdrew from the bidding for Littlewoods, leaving the chain of stores to be bought by Associated British Foods, which operates discount chain Primark.