Building group Morgan Sindall, the parent company of Oxford builders Hinkins & Frewin, has entered the civil engineering market.

The company has splashed out £20m on buying Miller Civil Engineering Services, based in Rugby, Warwickshire, from its Scottish parent Miller Group.

The deal signals the end of a three-year search by Morgan Sindall for a suitable civil engineering vehicle.

Morgan Sindall has three divisions - social housing, which operates under the brand name Lovell, regional contracting and office refitting.

Like the building group's other divisions, MCES will operate as an individual business under the Morgan Sindall umbrella.