DOBBIES Garden Centres has seen its profits dip from £7.3 million to £6.7m in its most recent financial year.

Accounts filed at Companies House show the business, which has its headquarters in Lasswade, Midlothian, and is owned by Tesco, reported an increase in turnover from £137.4m to £142m in the 12 months to February 23.

Average staff numbers were steady at 2,845 but the number of full-time equivalent workers fell steeply from 2,223 to 2,042.

Directors' emoluments rose from £511,000 to £924,000 with the highest paid seeing their rewards increasing from £283,000 to £487,000. The accounts state more than £704,000 was paid out to directors for loss of office. Among the directors who resigned during the financial year were chief executive James Barnes and finance director Sharon Brown.