Portable accommodation and secure storage business Mobile Mini has reported a 3.8% increase in annual income at its UK operation, to £59.8m.

The US-based group said it invested £7.9m during 2016 in expanding its UK hire fleet of steel storage containers, portable offices, canteens and toilets, which now stands at almost 40,000 units.

This included the acquisition in December of container hire business Mr Box, based at Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, which continues to trade as a separate division alongside the national Mobile Mini network which includes a depot in Manningtree.

Investment also included a new range of Groundhog combined kitchen and toilet units and new fuel-efficient delivery vehicles.

Chris Morgan, managing director at Mobile Mini, said: “2016 has been another successful year in terms of growth, with continued investment in our people, products and equipment.

“Expansion across the country means we’re confident we will always have the right products on offer for our customers when they need them.

“As we move through the next 12 months, we’re determined to maintain our market leading position by continuing to invest in growing and refurbishing our fleet, as well as the talented team at the company.”