DONEGAL Creameries plc has gone into the estate aghency business. Donegal Esates which opened on Monday is a subsidiary and will deal in all aspects of residential, commercial and investment property sales and lettings.

Donegal Estates, based in Ballyraine offers a management service which will cover everything from rent collection to property maintenance on behalf of the proprietor.

Geoffrey Vance, Chairman of Donegal Creameries said: "We made the decision to open an estate agency in order to share our expertise in property with customers, shareholders and the general public. Our philosophy has always been to provide our customers and communities with local quality products and a professional service that truly reflects our culture, heritage and integrity."

The Donegal Estates team will be headed by Gareth Whitmore, who has played a leading role in the development and management of the company's property portfolio.

"We care about our service and are committed to offering our clients a competitive, transparent fee structure coupled with a reliable and professional practice that is focused on the individual needs of each customer. We have opted not to deal in mortgage advice, mortgage brokerage service or insurance products which adheres to the Director of Consumer Affairs' recommendation that consumers should not arrange mortgages through the same Estate Agent from whom they are purchasing a property. We will happily provide our customers with a fully comprehensive list of all leading banks and insurance providers if required," added Mr Whitmore.