A businesswoman has decided to merge her PR company with a Birmingham firm and chose Bromsgrove as the site for its national headquarters.

The new public relations consultancy Haswell Holden was born after talks between Bromsgrove-based Haswell PR and Birmingham-based Peacock Consulting when the two principals, Sue Haswell and Steve Holden, discovered they had similar ideas about running their businesses.

Steve, of Lickey End, Bromsgrove, suggested they should merge their businesses to give their clients a better service.

Sue Haswell, of Victoria Road, Bromsgrove, said: "We both were passionate about our client's businesses and wanted to go that extra mile to satisfy them."

The PR consultancy has offices in Reading, Nottingham and Birmingham but chose to locate its headquarters in Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove.

Sue said: "I think clients like coming to Bromsgrove as opposed to the big cities, because of the beautiful countryside and there are lovely restaurants and pubs around. We're doing our bit to put Bromsgrove on the map!"

The firm's clients range from Central Trains to Astroturf UK.