Public relations company Northern Profile (NP) has been acquired by marketing services group Golley Slater.

NP, which launched in Newcastle ten years ago, has been bought in a seven figure deal which creates a combined business with more than £90m in annual billings and nine UK offices.

Golley Slater, which has offices in Cardiff, Bristol, Cirencester, Birmingham and Twickenham, will add NP's offices in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and London to its UK portfolio, creating a major national PR business with a combined staff of more than 100 and PR fee income of £5m.

The firm is one of the UK's leading marketing agencies outside London.

NP was recently the winner of PR Week's Best Small Consultancy award and was one of the fastest growing PR companies, with an annual turnover of £2m.

Its portfolio includes bakery chain Greggs, Richmond Ice Cream and men's clothing retailer The Officers Club.