Photographers will be able to buy Leica products at four Jessops stores, in a move that ties in with Leica UK’s plan to inspire more enthusiasts to use rangefinder cameras, as revealed in an interview with AP in August.

Jessops is now an official Leica dealer, which means Leica kit will be available at Jessops ‘Centre of Excellence’ stores in Reading, Birmingham, Glasgow and Oxford Street in London.

Leica Camera UK’s general manager Jason Heward said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Jessops. We share the same philosophy for creating destinations where photography enthusiasts can go for advice and inspiration.

‘A Jessops Centre of Excellence is somewhere for you to learn about photography, view photography and create your own images.

‘It is exciting for us to have our iconic products in these locations.

‘Their knowledge and passionate staff will help to bring Leica photography to a broader audience.’

Asked how long it has been since Jessops stocked Leica products, a Leica UK spokesperson said: ‘I have spoken to Jessops and there is a possibility Leica was stocked in Jessops in the 1990s.’

Yesterday, Jessops revealed its full financial results for the first time since being taken over by Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Peter Jones.