Hamleys, the historic toy seller with the flagship store on London's Regent Street, is expanding into India with plans to build a network across the country of 20 stores, writes Joe Leahy in Mumbai .

The 248-year-old group, which is also planning 20 stores across the Middle East, yesterday announced a tie-up with a unit of Reliance Industries, India's largest private sector company, which will act as Hamleys' franchisee in the subcontinent.