ACCOUNTING giant BDO Stoy Hayward has bought independent Southampton tax boutique Lines Wilson for an undisclosed sum.

The deal creates one of the biggest business services firms in the city with 207 staff and ten partners.

It also brings together well-known regional tax professionals Andrew Lines and Stuart Lisle together under one roof.

Andrew Lines will be the partner in charge of the Southampton private client business, a new position at the office. His Lines Wilson partner Karen Wilson will be working on share schemes work.

Strategic acquisition Stuart Lisle, head of tax at BDO Stoy Hayward Southampton, said: "We are delighted to announce this strategic acquisition and welcome Lines Wilson to our team. The combination of the BDO Stoy Hayward and Lines Wilson teams will result in one of the most powerful and comprehensive tax service offerings in the region.

"In the past three years the tax team in Southampton has trebled in terms of people and revenue. We have recently had a new ex-pat team join us and, along with Lines Wilson, this means we now have 47 in our tax group, cementing its premier position on the south coast and one of the largest regional practices in BDO Stoy Hayward."Andrew Lines said: "The majority of our clients, will be pleased that by joining BDO Stoy Hayward we will be able to greatly enhance the financial services we have available to offer."