CEO says good 2020 enables firm to return govt cash, top-up staff who took pay cuts and give shareholders catch-up dividends.

The group's three-year-old financial services arm Brook/MAB saw its profits jump by 26% last year.

Estate agency group has also announced that it will pay back staff whose salaries were cut during the lockdown months.

Heather McCarthy has now stolen thousands from three employers but after recent birth of child judge said a custodial sentence was inappropriate.

Sue, who with her partner John runs one of Belvoir’s most successful offices with 13 staff, slams the problems red tape causes for agents.

Lovelle in South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire has seen six of its directly-managed branches sold off to staff along with a new look and website.

Nigel Lewis talks to the CEO of the franchise group that has managed to weather the Covid storm better than most.

Grace Milham previously worked at Belvoir, before leaving to run a castle but has now returned to the estate agency and been promoted.