Two of the county's accountancy firms have confirmed they are to merge.

The Kent offices of national chartered accountants Haines Watts will merge with MHA MacIntyre Hudson.

The move will create a county-wide team of ten partners, two specialist directors and more than 80 accounting and support staff, operating from MHA MacIntyre Hudson’s offices in Maidstone and Canterbury.

Duncan Cochrane-Dyet, MHA MacIntyre Hudson’s Kent managing partner, explained: "Kent is a really exciting market place with major growth prospects and this merger will make us a real force in the county.

“Both firms have a similar outlook in valuing our clients and people above all else and are a great cultural fit. We’re confident that together we will continue to deliver services to a high level with access to a wider range of expertise for Haines Watts clients.”

Haines Watts Maidstone partner Anthony Brand said: "We're delighted to be merging with MHA MacIntyre Hudson, a firm that has an excellent reputation and is recognised by professionals, business people and private individuals both regionally and nationally. This union will enable us to provide a greater breadth and depth of services to our current Kent client base.”

The Canterbury and Maidstone offices of Haines Watts will relocate to the MHA MacIntyre Hudson offices in Ashford Road, Maidstone and New Dover Road, Canterbury.