One established family-run Gloucestershire company has acquired another one in a 'multi-million pound deal'.

Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd, a construction, demolition, transport and waste management firm, has announced the acquisition of Ermin - a family-run plant and equipment hire business.

Established in 1966 in Gloucester, Ermin grew successfully and opened depots in Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Worcester and Ross-on-Wye, currently employing about 60 people.

Smiths, which has its head office in Stonehouse, was listed number 39 in Punchline's Top 100 Gloucestershire companies last year and now employs around 500 people.

The all share purchase, brokered by The Hire Exchange, includes all six of Ermin's depots.

Nigel Kelly, previous managing director and shareholder of Ermin, said: "Whilst I'm sad to be leaving a company that myself and my family have been part of these past 56 years, I'm delighted it will continue its growth and success under the guidance of Smiths, a similar local family-run enterprise with the same ethos and values.

"I wish Alan, Paul, Rebecca and all at Smiths and the directors and staff of Ermin the very best for the future."

Rebecca Pullin, company secretary of Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd and newly appointed director of Ermin Plant (Hire and Services) Ltd, said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Nigel and Julie on this transaction and I wish them all the very best for their future endeavours.

"We are really excited about this acquisition and the opportunities that it will present. The compliments that it will offer to our existing business practices is what attracted us to the acquisition in the first instance but it is also evident that the Ermin business model is one that has been successfully servicing the trade in the South West for over 56 years."

Smiths celebrates its 40th anniversary of trading this year. As a family-owned company, it says it embodies a community culture, rewarding hard work from staff who continue to deliver excellent customer service on small and large-scale projects.