Royal & Sun Alliance is understood to be expanding its insurer-owned network of bodyshops.

The company has owned four sites in Luton, Willenhall, Glasgow and Leeds, for several years.

They operate under the brand Quality Repair Centres.

Industry sources told AM that it has recruited bodyshop consultant Ken Lane, former head of Nationwide Crash Repair Centres, to assess prospective acquisition targets.

He is looking for bodyshops of 12,000 to 25,000sq ft with an established workforce which RSA could take over.

One industry source said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if RSA is aiming to secure its repair capacity through buying bodyshops.”

Lane told AM : “I want to buy some bodyshops” but declined to confirm who he is acting for.