The owner of B&Q and Screwfix has announced that it is creating 1,200 jobs across the UK this year.

Kingfisher said that its growing business would take on 230 staff at 29 former Focus DIY stores. One thousand new jobs are also being created at trade tools supplier Screwfix.

The announcement came as Kingfisher reported sharply higher profits.

Pre-tax profits at the group rose 24% to £439m in the six months to the end of July.

Kingfisher said it was investing £130m in the UK this year, four times the previous year.

That includes £20m it is spending refurbishing the Focus DIY stores it bought earlier this year.

It has already opened 13 new Screwfix outlets this year. It expects to have opened another 40 by January 2012.