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A historic Northumberland firm known for its expertise in demolition has been sold. Thompsons of Prudhoe has been taken over by Yorkshire-based Ashcourt Group, Companies House documents show.

Thompsons of Prudhoe dates back to 1948 and has remained in the family of its founders William and Margaret Thompson until now. The firm began in the haulage business for mostly agricultural customers but has since expanded into demolition services, asbestos removal, quarrying, earthworks and contaminated land remediation.

Since 1987 it has been based at premises on the Low Prudhoe Industrial Estate, with the founders’ sons Billy and John driving expansion into new areas during the second half of the 20th century. Until its sale, the company was run by John Thompson and Helen Hillary, the third generation of the Thompson family to take the helm.

In recent years, Thompsons has been involved in a number of landmark demolition schemes in the North East, including last year’s controlled explosion that brought down the Hexham House tower block in Walker and the Castle Leazes university accommodation at Newcastle University. It also played a key role in demolition work at the former Redcar steel works, now the Teesworks site.

In its most recent accounts, Thompsons reported turnover of £54.9m and an operating loss of just over £100,000. The company had seen record revenues a year earlier.

Now Companies House documents have been published showing that John Thompson and Helen Hillary have resigned as directors to be replaced by Alistair and Kurt Bousfield, directors of Ashcourt Group. Founded in 2012 and based at Pocklington, just outside York, the family run firm has become a leading supplier of construction materials and waste management solutions with bases around Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East.

The company moved into the North East two years ago with the acquisition of Newton-Aycliffe based waste recycling, demolition, earthworks and plant hire business John Wade Group. That deal took Ashcourt’s headcount beyond 400, and the Thompsons’ deal is set to bring even more people into the firm.

Ashcourt itself started in student accommodation provision, adding allied disciplines through organic growth and acquisition as it has “consistently pursued growth and expansion opportunities”. The company’s most recent accounts showed a turnover of £242.9m and an operating profit of £24.9m.