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Lego has announced plans to buy 29 entertainment venues from theme park giant Merlin as part of a £200 million purchase.

The Danish toy brand announced it would buy the Lego and Legoland branded discovery centres from Merlin Entertainments, who also own venues such as Alton Towers , Madame Tussauds and the Peppa Pig theme parks.

The company revealed the deal was part of a strategy to take more control of sites which are linked to its brand.

Sites are spread across nine countries. The deal impacts two UK locations - the Manchester Legoland Discovery Centre, which is located next to the Trafford Centre, and the Legoland site in Birmingham.

The deal will not include Legoland Resorts, such as Legoland in Windsor, which will continue to be operated by Merlin under licence,

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