A WELL-KNOWN County Durham estate agent has merged with a larger group.

Barnard Castle based estate agency, McOwan and Co, owned and operated by Stephen McOwan, has joined residential property agents George F White.

The new alliance will see McOwan and Co’s two fulltime members of staff employed by the new group.

Mr McOwan will continue to head up the Barnard Castle office and will also take up the role of head of property sales and acquisitions for George F White. The aim of the merger is to extend the company’s geographical coverage and increase village and rural sales in the North-East, and Yorkshire.

Mr McOwan said: “I will continue to be based from Barnard Castle and am looking forward to maintaining a strong foothold and offering a broad range of services to our existing clients.”

Robyn Peat, of George F White, said: “Stephen has unrivalled understanding of the rural sector and brings in a wealth of experience.”

George F White has sales offices in Wolsingham, in County Durham, Bedale, in North Yorkshire, Alnwick and the Tyne Valley, in Northumberland and London.