AN Internet bookshop could double its staff following its sale to one of the world's largest online booksellers.

Bookpages Ltd, in Station Road, Gerrards Cross, the UK's second largest specialist Internet bookstore, has been bought by American company Amazon.com Inc.

Bookpages, with 23 staff, is the largest of three companies in the UK and Germany bought by Amazon for a total of $55 million.

Dr Simon Murdoch, managing director of Bookpages, said: "This is fantastic news for Bookpages and its customers.

"The deal is also likely to result in significant company growth and increased job opportunities in the coming months."

Mr Murdoch said the company would be discounting a larger number of titles.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.