Marks & Spencer has snapped up a 25 per cent share in fashion brand Nobody's Child.

Nobody's Child was the first third-party brand M&S, which has stores in Gloucester and Cheltenham, stocked online. It will continue to operate as an independent business, as reported by Retail Gazette.

The deal means the brand will now be able to access M&S's infrastructure and investment to scale up its business.

M&S said Nobody's Child will bring a number of benefits, including its focus on near-sourcing supply.

The move is the latest in the retailer's Brands at M&S strategy, which uses business models including exclusive collaborations, strategic acquisitions, wholesale agreements and investments.

M&S now works with over 30 partner brands, including Clarks and Ghost.

It said that working with other brands is helping it to become more relevant to more people, while working with M&S.com is an attractive proposition for the brands because of the retailer's broad customer base.