A WINCHESTER based hygiene services firm has been sold to a major rival for an undisclosed sum. Southern Hygiene Services which supplies the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon and Ascot racecourse has been bought by PHS.

SHS supplies hand towels, soap dispensers, vending machines and hand dryers, among other equipment.

The brainchild of owners Rebecca Jones D'All and Sharon Cullinane, SHS was set-up eight years ago using the pair's previous experience of working for a FTSE 100 hygiene service company.

The company swelled quickly but was still dwarfed by PHS, which has 110,000 customers at more than 180,000 locations.

Rebecca Jones said: "We had reached the stage that we had achieved our goals with the company and wanted a different challenge so the timing of PHS's interest was ideal.

"After the hard work Sharon and I have put into the business over the last eight years, it was imperative that we got the right deal.'' Southampton chartered accountants HWB worked on the sale.

Nicolette Frogley, of HWB, said: "We were aware that PHS were seeking to acquire independent companies in their market and due to their success in the south, SHS were an obvious target."