CARAVAN dealership Barrons North-East has acquired three new franchises for motorhome sales.

Barrons, based at Burtree Gate, near Darlington, will have the rights to sell La Strada, Adria and Autocruise from next year.

Nick Markl of Barrons said: "The sale of motorhomes represents an increasingly important element of our product mix.

"We are excited by the prospect of having these new manufacturers side by side with our existing strong franchise and ever-growing stock of quality used motorhomes."

Barrons, which is based in Lancashire and has seven dealerships across the UK, was named one of the fastest-growing companies in the country earlier this year.

It was 49th in a league table of privately-owned companies.

In the past four years, its sales have grown from nearly £13m to £86.7m, which saw it named in the Hot 100 league table, compiled by Lloyds TSB and Real Business Magazine.

Barrons started out from modest beginnings half a century ago, when Dave Barron sold caravans from a back garden in Blackpool with a stock of only ten.

Barrons now sells everything for outdoor holidays, including tourers, motorhomes, holiday homes, folding campers, awnings, tents and accessories.