A NATIONAL estate agents which was founded in York says it has shaken off Brexit ‘uncertainty’ with an ‘impressive’ trading update for the first six months of the year.

Hunters said its network income to June 30 was up by 42 per cent at £16.9 million, compared with £12 million in the same period last year.

It said turnover was up 26 per cent at £6.6 million, compared with £5.2 million in 2015, and adjusted profit before tax was also up by 134 per cent to £807,000, compared with £345,000 last year, while adjusted earnings per share were up 61 per cent to 2.52p.

Hunters, which opened its first office in York in 1992 and its first franchising branch in 2006, has grown to having 180 branches nationwide. During the six-month period it opened 17 new branches and increased its lettings income across the network by 18 per cent.

Glynis Frew, managing director of Hunters Property Plc, said: “We are delighted that our lenders, HSBC, see the exciting potential and growth in our business and have made a new line of credit available to the group to deliver on its growth strategy, and we are confident of our growth prospects and meeting our expectations for the full year.”

Kevin Hollinrake, chairman and founder of Hunters, said: “The first six months have seen the group build successfully on the track record built up over the last 24 years, delivering profit, network and revenue growth, all substantially ahead of last year.

“Potential uncertainty following the EU referendum has been mitigated by the franchise strategy of the business.

He said: “The group’s strategy is to continue to grow a predominantly franchise network, and during the first half of 2016 added a further 17 branches, all franchised, of which ten were existing businesses converting to Hunters.

“The business is well placed for the remainder of the year, with a good pipeline. The board expects the strong growth of the network in the first half of 2016 to continue in the second half as a consequence of the new network branches, stronger inquiries from other existing businesses and our recently extended facilities.”