Drinks brands Robinsons squash and Irn-Bru are to be poured into the same company after their makers unveiled a £1.4bn (€1.75bn) merger deal today.

Robinsons squash firm Britvic today said its full year performance would beat expectations but warned of continued troubles in its Irish business.

Shares in Britvic climbed 5% today after the soft drinks firm said it had secured new banking facilities through to May 2012.