A leading South West rural team has joined Carter Jonas as it expands into Somerset and Cornwall.

Carter Jonas, the national property consultancy, is strengthening its position in the South West with a significant expansion to the team.

The opening of two new offices in Taunton and Truro extend Carter Jonas's reach and will form part of an existing network of offices including Marlborough and Bath in the South West, and a total of 38 offices across the UK.

The expansion includes the arrival of David Hebditch, a leading South West rural surveyor and a number of his team from Humberts joining Carter Jonas.

Hebditch has over 30 years of experience in the rural sector working at a national and regional level, providing sales and rural management advice to institutional and private clients.

Tim Jones, head of the rural division, said: "The expansion of our team into Taunton and Truro is a significant milestone for our South West network.

"With this additional reach we strengthen Carter Jonas’s position as a market leader in the rural sector providing our clients with a full service offering, including rural management, agency, valuation and other professional services advice.”

James Stephen, head of the South West rural team, said:

“As well as expanding our network of offices, it is extremely encouraging to be growing our team with a number of new arrivals.

"David Hebditch is a leading industry figure who is well known to many with a great reputation in the rural sector.

"His team are highly experienced and established rural professionals and bring a wealth of specialist expertise and a broad contact base.

"Together, with the enthusiasm and commitment of our existing staff, we look forward to building Carter Jonas’s client base across the region.”

David Hebditch, partner of Carter Jonas, said: “I am delighted to be joining a national firm with such a strong reputation within the industry.

"Both the team and I are excited to be working with colleagues who we have known and respected for many years.

"Together, we have much to offer businesses in the South West.”

Ian Westerling, managing director of Humberts, said:

“With Humberts embarking on a new overall business strategy for 2017 and beyond we are sad to say goodbye to David Hebditch and his local Taunton rural team.

"Our current clients in Taunton will experience a carefully managed transition over to Carter Jonas and it will be business as usual for the remainder of our rural business.”