IRELAND was the only blot in a record fiscal year for international pharmacy and beauty products chain Boots, but it still has plans to expand here.

Demand for anti-ageing creams today helped Alliance Boots report a surge in sales growth at its health and beauty arm.

Boots Opticians is to merge with Dollond & Aitchison, the high street retail chain said today.

British retailer Boots today said it was pulling out of services including dentistry and laser eye correction in a move set to affect up to 850 jobs.