Publisher Taylor & Francis, whose journals business is based in Abingdon, has bought international books and journals publisher Gordon and Breach.

It is the group's sixth acquisition since floating on the stock market in May, 1998.

Taylor & Francis, which publishes scientific, medical and technical books and journals, paid £21.7m for Gordon and Breach, which has offices worldwide. It notched up sales of £13.9m in its last fiscal year.

The group is paying for the company out of its cash assets and said the move was in line with its ambition to grow its business organically and through acquisition.