The largest accountancy business in north Oxfordshire will be created with the merger of two Banbury firms.

Ellacotts and Jones Boughton which have both been trading for 50 years, will bring a total of 69 staff together when the deal is rubber stamped in November.

And in a further shake-up of financial services in the town, fellow accountancy firm Whitley Stimpson has merged with High Wycombe practice Hale Partnership.

David Saunders, managing partner at Ellacotts, said: “We strongly believe this merger will allow us to further strengthen the services we can offer our clients, as well as giving us access to a greater breadth of information and specialist knowledge.”

Derek Boughton, partner at Jones Boughton, added: “Combining our resources and knowledge base will allow us to more effectively serve as a trusted advisor to our clients over the coming years.”

The newly combined firm which will be known as Ellacotts, will be based at newly refurbished offices at West Bar, Banbury.

Meanwhile, the merger of Whitley Stimpson and Hale Partnership has been approved with 55 staff working together under the Whitley Stimpson banner.

“There is a good fit between the two firms and it allows us to strengthen and broaden our range of services. Our clients will also benefit from the greater breadth of experience of the combined firms.”