The Office of Fair Trading is investigating a £32 million takeover bid by Burley-in-Wharfedale based home-shopping firm Findel.

The OFT is checking to see if Findel's bid for rival educational supplies company Novara would give it over 25 per cent of the market.

The proposal is opposed by Novara's management, but Findel is confident it will go ahead, the OFT inquiry pending.

Findel recently published strong financial results which showed a 20 per cent leap in turnover from £201.7 to £241.3 million.

If successful, the acquisition would make the company the largest independent specialist educational supplier in Britain.