Jarvis tipped to buy Shanks division

Romford-based contractor Jarvis is expected to announce the acquisition of Shanks McEwan's construction services arm soon.

Industry sources say Jarvis was in the final throes of a deal to buy the œ20 million a year business and turn itself into a national contractor.

Purchase of the civils-dominated company would give Jarvis a presence in Scotland and a further office in England.

According to the parent company's full year results, construction services made losses of œ1m on current contracts.