THIS year estate and lettings agency Carson & Co celebrates its 40 th anniversary.

To mark this special occasion, the firm, which has an office in Festival Place, will be holding a special event.

This will be held at its Camberley office on Thursday February 13, from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Customers old and new as well as members of the public and local businesses are invited to attend and help the estate agents celebrate this milestone.

Carson & Co began life in 1974 when founder Roger Carson opened its first estate agency branch in Camberley.

The company was known then as Carson and Thompson.

Back then the typical house price of a three bedroom property in Camberley was between £10,000 and £15,000 – much lower than the typical house price today.

By 1980 the company had expanded to six branches but the partnership between Carson and Thompson dissolved.

This led to the Surrey based branches staying under the management of Roger Carson and becoming Carson & Company.

Roger Carson sold the company in July 1989 to London and Manchester Group which was later absorbed into Friends Provident and came into ownership of Countrywide plc – the UK’s largest estate agency network, in 2002.

Carson & Co say it has always been an estate agent with a positive approach to selling houses no matter what the economic climate.

The estate agency’s ability to market and sell second hand homes caught the eye of a number of regional house builders, including Charles Church and for the past 25 years the company has sold new build properties, which it continues to do today.

With the business going from strength to strength, Carson & Co now has a regional network of 15 branches throughout Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. The firm believes its direct link to the London property market through its exclusive association with John D Wood & Co estate agents, is a great advantage to market local homes to buyers, landlords and investors from the capital.

Commenting on this poignant anniversary, founder Roger Carson said: “I’m flattered that the brand has lasted this long and that local people still identify with it after all of these years.

“I am delighted that it is still a thriving business and pleased that Countrywide has chosen to invest and build the brand as opposed to turning it into something else.”

Managing director Iain White, said: “We are so proud to be celebrating this achievement. “Carson & Co is an established and well respected estate agency brand and this achievement is testament to our people and the service they provide to our customers.

“We look forward to pushing the business forward in 2014 and the whole team is delighted to be celebrating our achievements.”

As part of the celebrations, Carson & Co is offering 40 per cent off the estate agency fee to those who instruct the firm to sell their property by February 28, 2014.