BRITAIN'S leading mobile phone operator Vodafone has rung up a £77 million acquisition of The Peoples Phone Company, netting almost £8 million for the target company's founder. Mr Charles Wigoder, who left the business in January following a boardroom row, still holds about 10 per cent of the company.

The largest shareholder merchant banking group, Singer & Friedlander with a 34 per cent stake, said it would receive about £27.3 million from the deal.