Barrhead Travel is to invest £8.1 million in new store openings, as it extends its footprint in England and opens sites in Fort Kinnard Retail Park and Port Glasgow Retail Park.

The investment, which includes a new store opening in Southampton, will create 40 new jobs by the middle of the year.

The company, which has 70 shops across the UK entered the English market for the first time in 2015 with a branch in Newcastle. This was followed by another in Leicester.

The company’s strategy is to remain focused on its retail estate, in spite of the rise of online bookings .

Bill Munro, chief executive, said: “We believe the high street agent is stronger than ever. More customers are booking in store because they want the expertise of our specialists.