Twenty-five-million-pound shopping spree includes UK interior products company Nevill Long and US wood products firm Hom Lumber Company.

Acquisitive materials giant Wolseley UK has bought three more companies in North America and Europe in a £25m spree.

In the UK, the firm has bought interior products specialist Nevill Long, which has nine branches across England and Wales. Wolseley said that the acquisition would be complementary to Encon, the insulation products outfit which it bought in October 2005.

Wolseley's Swiss subsidiary Tobler has bought the trade and some assets of Hermann Frei, which sells service and maintenance on oil- and gas-fired burners.

In the US, subsidiary Stock Building Supply has bought wood products firm the Home Lumber Company in California.

Wolseley hopes that the three businesses will add about £72m in annual turnover, and brings the total acquisitions since 1 August 2005 to 35 companies at a cost of £623m.

Charlie Banks, group chief executive, said: "We are delighted to announce these new acquisitions which support our strategy of growing the business through acquisition and organic growth.

"The acquisition of Nevill Long will build on our presence in the interior systems market in the UK, which we entered through the acquisition of Encon in October 2005, and Home Lumber gives us a stronger position in the buoyant housing markets of California and Nevada."