TWO of Worcestershire's estate agents are to join forces from Tuesday, February 1.

Humberts Worcester yesterday announced the merger of Whitt Yeates & Ridley, Malvern.

Initially, the business will trade from Malvern as Whitt Yeates & Ridley in association with Humberts.

Ken Jones, the managing partner of Whitt Yeates & Ridley for 35 years sold after he decided he would like to take a lesser role.

A spokesman for Humberts said he felt their business "would benefit greatly from having an office in Malvern, developing the centre in its own right."