Business expansion is the motivation behind a family-run haulage firm which has bought a well-known Gloucestershire forecourt site.

After 71 years of family ownership Adrian and Nigel Hawkins decided to sell the 1.7-acre garage plot and buildings on the A48 just outside Gloucester.

Christie & Co sold the Ministerworth property for the pair, which were using it as a forecourt retailing fuel, a shop and for servicing vehicles, to another family firm - MB Holder and Sons.

The haulage business, run by brothers Jason and Wayne Holder, currently rents a site off Horton Road in Gloucester. Its new headquarters - which has workshop facilities capable of accommodating heavy goods vehicles - was described as "the perfect premises to operate a haulage business from".

Jason said: "Minsterworth Garage is a great fit for our haulage business. We are delighted to have completed on the purchase and look forward to carrying out some work on the site prior to us moving in.

"Our intention is to completely re-locate MB Holder and Sons before April and look forward to expanding the business in 2019."

Adrian and Nigel Hawkins acquired the site from their parents in 1947 and decided to sell in order to retire

"Our family has operated forecourt related businesses in the area for over 70 years. It was the right time for us to retire and we are really pleased to have sold the site to Wayne and Jason Holder, for them to operate their haulage business from the site," said the Adrian.

Nigel added: "We would like to thank David Morris at Christie & Co for his help and guidance throughout the sale process, and we wish Wayne and Jason all the best for the future."

David Morris, director at Christie & Co, and the man who handled the sale, said: "The sale of Minsterworth Garage demonstrates that the market is still strong for the right opportunity.

"In this case, the size of plot and location of Minsterworth Garage were the key selling features, attracting interest from multiple business owners and generating five offers.

"It was a pleasure acting for Adrian and Nigel and look forward to seeing the Holders change the garage to suit the requirements for their existing haulage business."

Read more: Gloucestershire business magazine Punchline-Gloucester.com's January 2019 edition features fifty of the county's best apprenticeship providers and the 260-plus apprenticeships they could have on offer in 2019.