FIVE members of staff at a Swindon estate agent have returned to the fold.

All had left Castles Residential Sales and Lettings over the past few years for different reasons, including furthering their careers and their children’s schooling.

But now Austen Gray, Ben Deacon Simon Legge, Tracey Vasko and Guy Devine are back with managing director Mark Noble’s team.

Guy left in 2011 for geographical reasons and to put his daughter's education first. But he regards Castles as his second family.

He said: "I never wanted to leave Castles all those years ago and I was delighted to return for a managing director whose passion and drive to be the best is infectious.”

Ben left to become a branch manager and worked for an online agency before returning with his experience.

Mr Noble said: "When some agents are suffering in the current market conditions, Castles are getting stronger because these amazing people have taken the decision to come back.”

Started in 2002, just a few weeks ago the firm was voted best estate agent in Swindon by past clients and it exchanged contracts on its 4,000th property.