A GROWING chartered surveyor has bought two businesses to continue its expansion.

Smiths Gore, based in Darlington, has acquired the Sale and Partners' estate agency office, in Wooler, Northumberland, and Berkshire-based Hives Planning.

The company has also added Melissa Lines to its team.

Ms Lines, who previously ran her own online agency, joins Smiths Gore's Darlington branch as head of estate agency.

She will work alongside Simon Bainbridge, a partner in the business specialising in estate agency and auctions.

She said: “When the position came up, it was an opportunity I felt I couldn't pass.

“Having been born and raised in Darlington and North Yorkshire, I'll be operating in a housing market I know and love so well.”

Andrew Turner, who heads up Smiths Gore's agency division said the company was well-positioned to benefit from growing housing market confidence.

He added: “These are exciting times for the firm and we are seeing real strength coming back into the market in the North-East and Yorkshire.”

The company acts for clients with total landholdings in excess of two million acres and has offices throughout the UK.