Prominent west country agent Stags has acquired competitor Ward and Chowen, which has traded in Tavistock for 180 years both as an agent and running a livestock market.

The company will now be trading as Stags incorporating Ward and Chowen.

The takeover will bring Stags’ total number offices in the west country to 21 and its livestock markets to three.

Stags partner Peter Symons told the local paper. “It’s all about the staff.

“We have spent three weeks with the Ward and Chowen staff and they are a lovely crew. They are really integrated in the community here and we cherish that.

“We have seen lots of potential in the staff and there are opportunities for them to grow in our business. We spend a lot of time on training and, as in any firm, it is the staff that make the difference.’

He said that there was an extraordinary history to Ward and Chowen that is in the process of being archived.