A YORK estate agency group which has grown from a single branch in the city to a nation wide franchise operation is celebrating the launch of its first television commercial.

Hunters invited around 100 guests to its new headquarters and showroom in Eboracum Way for the debut airing of the advert, which was shown during Grand Designs on More4 on Tuesday evening.

The firm, which opened its first branch 22 years ago and now has a network of more than 127, has completed a deal which will see its advert aired on More4 nationally throughout January and February, and again in September, and also on 4OD.

Pernilla Tweddle, head of marketing at Hunters, said: "We believe we are the only independent estate agency to launch a national television advertising campaign.

"We have had some fantastic feedback, and are thrilled with the advert. It has been a long term ambition of ours, and following network growth we are now in a position to achieve it."

The advert follows a record year for Hunters which opened 37 new branches in 2014, as well as completing a move to its new headquarters and showroom.

The firm has acquired the premises in Eboracum Way in 2007, but initially rented it out as office space.

But following growth of the business, which saw the Colliergate branch grow to more than 40 staff, the business invested in creating a new showroom for York and a head office for its staff.

Hunters plans to open a further 50 branches this year, with the aim of having more than 500 offices in total in five years time.