A NORTH-EAST lettings agency has opened another branch as continues its growth.

The Castledene Group has set up an office in Stanley, County Durham, which bosses say has taken on 40 properties in two weeks.

It hopes to take on two workers to add to Stanley branch manager John Robson and portfolio manager Kirsty Cartridge.

Castledene, of Easington, east Durham, was founded by managing director John Paul in August 2008 to provide property management, investment and maintenance services

It manages more than 1,900 properties across the North-East, Halifax and Manchester, employing 35 workers.

Mr Paul said: “We’ve been spending the last six months searching for the best area to open up a new branch and Stanley was the ideal choice.

“There are a lot of rental properties in the area, and we felt confident that we could duplicate the success we have had in our other branches.”