ACCOUNTANCY firm Jackson Stephen has announced a further expansion following a merger with a Manchester rival.

The Bolton company merged with accountants Nasmith Coutts, based on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre.

The combined firm will operate under the Jackson Stephen name.

Jackson Stephen Managing Partner Diane Brennan said: "We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to merge with such a long standing and highly respected accountancy firm. It was felt that the cultures within the two firms in terms of both client service and staff development would enable the combined practice to continue its commitment to delivering quality, value added, professional advice."

Ms Brennan said that the merger was in line with the company's overall expansion plan.

She said: "We are recruiting at partner level within most of our specialisms, including corporate finance and forensic."

Jackson Stephen, established in 1921, has offices in Bolton, Manchester and Leigh, with 11 partners and more than 110 staff. Last month the company announced that its plans to become the largest independent chartered accountants in the North-west were ahead of schedule, and announced the appointment of three new partners.

The firm's general approach is geared to owner managers and their businesses, with work concentrating on planning strategies within the context of the owner's personal objectives. It has a customer base of more than 2,500 clients.