Carlton currently manufactures up to 37 million wirecut bricks a year and made a pre-tax profit of £2.6m on turnover of £13.1m for the year to 31 March 2016.

The deal will increase Michelmersh’s annual output to over 100 million bricks and boost its presence in the RMI market.

Carlton has been owend by the Stephenson family since the 1970s.

Oliver Stephenson, Carlton’s Chairman and major shareholder, will cease to be employed by Carlton but will support the integration of the business into the enlarged Group through a two-year consultancy agreement.

Current Managing Director, Pat Furr, is retiring from the business at the end of 2017 but will help with the business transfer.

Sales staff at Carlton will continue to serve the existing customer base but over time will be “integrated into the Michelmersh national sale structure to encourage cross selling of products and widening of the geographical presence of the enlarged Group.”