HUSBAND and wife estate agency team Peter and Christine Illingworth of Illingworth-Wood in Kirkbymoorside have set up a new office in London's Mayfair, to help wealthy Londoners find a second home in North Yorkshire.

They will use their Kirkbymoorside branch, and Peter's separate partnership in Beanland Illingworth, in Pickering, to market the two towns, as well as an area as far as the coastal resorts of Whitby and Scarborough, and from Sutton Bank through the North York Moors and south of Malton, to potential buyers.

"We are delighted to have representation in the West End," said principal partner Peter Illingworth.

"We see this as a positive move in developing even stronger links within the national and international property market," he added.

Peter, formerly having read estate management and valuation in Sheffield, trained in East Yorkshire as an auctioneer, valuer and estate agent.

He came to to Ryedale just over 20 years ago, part of which was spent as a manager for a country house agent.

Early on in the days of being in business Peter was selected to appear on Yorkshire TV's Enterprise Competition.

Having seen his business in Kirkbymoorside successfully develop, some seven years ago an opportunity in Pickering presented itself, and another estate agency partnership was formed in the name of Beanland Illingworth.

Within a year or so he had established a website, being one of the first estate agencies in the country to go on line.

The next step was to strengthen his links with London, being a major source of buyers.

"Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and the surrounding area have always attracted a large number of purchasers from London.

"An office in Mayfair is a natural step in providing an even better local service.

"From London we will be concentrating on achieving the maximum coverage for our clients," he said.

The Mayfair office in Lees Place, just two minutes walk from Oxford Street and Grosvenor Square, is ideally situated in the heart of the West End.

"By establishing an office at such a good London address we can ensure that buyers are introduced to us at the very start of their property search," said Peter.

"We have often been asked by vendors about marketing in London, now with an office in Mayfair, we can proudly say we are Kirkbymoorside, Pickering and extensive surrounding area's West End agent."

The Mayfair Office is headed by Nicholas Churton, one of the foremost London-based marketing experts for country property.

Trained by Chestertons in London, Nicholas went on to establish the London office of a national firm of agents.

He is the only estate agent to have held the position of property advertising manager at Country Life magazine.

For details on how Illingworth Wood and their Mayfair office can introduce house sellers to a wider market place please call Peter Illingworth on (01751) 431107 or Nick Churton in London on 020 7408 1400.

Updated: 14:30 Wednesday, March 16, 2005