Latest acqusitions include Cornwall's K&R Building Supplies and electrical wholesaler AC Electrical.

Materials supplier Wolseley has splashed out £42m on four more companies, bringing its total number of acquisitions for the year to 39.

The firm has bought Cornwall-based K&R Building Supplies, a small builders' merchant with turnover of £3m and assets of £100,000.

It has also bought AC Electrical, an electrical wholesaler with 40 branches across the country, giving Wolseley an electrical chain of 66 stores. AC Electrical has turnover of £44.4m and assets of £7.8m.

In the US, the firm has acquired pipe distributor Pipe Products, which has six sites in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and the fixed assets of the wholesale division of Davis Homes. The division supplies roof trusses, door assemblies and other materials to Davis Homes, and Wolseley has agreed to continue that supply.

Charlie Banks, group chief executive of Wolseley said: "We are delighted to announce these new acquisitions which will further strengthen our presence in Europe and North America. They support our strategy of growing the business through increased product and geographic diversity to provide a platform for future organic growth."