The Skipton Building Society Group has snapped-up the UK's third largest chain of estate agents.

The organisation acquired Sequence (UK) Limited, which owns high profile high street agents such as William H Brown, through its subsidiary Connells Ltd.

Sequence was previously owned by Royal & SunAlliance and features 12 separate brands.

Both Sequence and Connells will continue to be run separately, retaining their own brands and branch networks.

With the acquisition of Sequence, the Connells Group now has a network of nearly 500 branches, making it the second largest estate agency group in the UK.

Connells chief executive Stephen Shipperley said: "I am very excited by the potential this acquisition brings, not only for the future development of Sequence, but also the ongoing expansion of the Connells Group."

David Livesey, a long standing member of the Connells executive board, has been appointed as chief executive of Sequence. He said: "Sequence is a very sound business with a good history.

"Our objective is to offer the best and most professional estate agency service, combined with market leading mortgage arrangement and conveyancing. We will also continue to provide our highly respected specialist operations such as lettings and auctions."