A leading Cumbrian estate agency this week announced that it has taken over a rival business.

Cumbrian Properties has bought Hopes Estate Agents of Wigton for an undisclosed sum, adding to its existing five branches across the county.

And director David Hogarth, who runs Cumbrian Properties with his brother Adrian, has signalled that they have other estate agencies in their sights.

He said: "Hopes have decided to concentrate on their main business, the auction mart, and approached us to take over their estate agents.

"This represents our commitment to expand our business in Cumbria and we are actively looking to add other estate agents to strengthen our position as Cumbria's leading estate agent offering a full range of property services throughout the county."

Current Hopes manager Dougie Farmer will join the new set-up, looking after the valuing and sales of properties in Wigton as well as taking on responsibility for West Cumbria.

"Dougie has more than 30 years of experience in the local market and we certainly don't want to lose that," said Mr Hogarth.

"We closed down our Wigton office in 2008 when the recession hit and this is now a good opportunity for us to again operate in that area which fills in geographically between our Carlisle, Keswick and Whitehaven offices.

"We will be marketing the Wigton properties from our Carlisle office. We're very proactive and hopefully the vendors will see that.

"Already we have had a very positive response from both vendors and purchasers and have had several properties being entered in our next auction on October 4.

"We're absolutely delighted about this, it gives us a chance to re-emerge in the Wigton area and strengthen our presence in West Cumbria."

Dougie Farmer added: "This new role allows me to continue playing to my strengths in marketing and valuing homes in Wigton and the wider area, backed up by the reassurance of belonging to a leading property group.

"I'm very happy and looking forward to being part of the Cumbrian Properties team."

Hopes were agents for the Furness Building Society and estate agency staff are being kept on with the society for the next six months.