A PROMINENT Hexham estate agent has gone into voluntary liquidation.

Foster Maddison, on Priestpopple, closed last month.

Pattinson Estate Agents has taken over the estate agent's portfolio of properties.

Marc Hydleman, manager at Pattinson in Hexham, said: "We are now handling all of Foster Maddison's listings and their sales progressions.

"We are hoping it's seamless, we've got all the files so we've got all the information and we're just working on everything as we would if they were our own."

Chris Ferguson of RMT Accountants was appointed as the liquidator of Foster Maddison on May 25.

Documents filed with Companies House show debts owed are £161,945.45 to 32 different creditors.

This includes £41,172.79 to HSBC Bank Plc, £30,347.82 to HMRC, £42,370.07 to Baskeys, £22,245.96 to Farmtrend Ltd and £3,951 to Northumberland County Council, the document shows.

The statement of affairs document submitted with Companies House states the estimated total assets available for preferential creditors is £43,200.

Foster Maddison was established in 2005, when it took over the former J M Clark & Partners estate agency office in Hexham.

The business also operated officers in Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Hexham Courant has contacted Foster Maddison for comment.