Van and truck rental specialist TLS Vehicle Rental has opened a new branch in Stoke on Trent.

TLS will share the branch, at Leek New Road, Cobridge, with GE Plant Hire. Both companies are part of the GE group.

The shared site concept has been successfully trialled at Oldham, near Manchester, for the last few months.

TLS chief executive officer Carl D’Ammassa said: "The Oldham branch has seen 150% growth since we opened earlier in the year and has achieved 50% more than we targeted measured by year to date figures.

"These are excellent results and have given us the impetus to drive forward with the shared sites programme.”

"By presenting both plant hire and vehicle rental together we are offering something unique for customers in this area. We have invested £120,000 in refurbishing the existing plant hire site to allow the offering of both products.”