An historic accountancy practice based in Kent for 94 years is being taken over by a rival.

The Maidstone office of Day, Smith & Hunter, known as DSH, will be acquired by Wilkins Kennedy, completing its second takeover of a firm in the county this year.

The practice will trade under its new owner's brand once the deal is completed at the end of the month.

It will continue to operate from its other office in Hertfordshire.

The deal means Wilkins Kennedy will have 72 partners across 16 offices in the UK and one in the Falklands, with an expected turnover of £47 million.

It adds the county town to its locations across Kent, which already included Ashford, Orpington and Sandwich.

It also has a base in Canterbury after merging with Lakin Clark in May.

Rob Reynolds, regional managing partner of Wilkins Kennedy’s southern region, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with DSH, a firm that is well established and very highly respected throughout the region.

“This merger provides us with a significant base in the centre of the county to support our growing client base. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to the team.”

DSH was founded in Maidstone in 1922 by William Day, whose family connections with the county town stretched back more than 400 years, including many of its mayors.

In 1937 Ronald Smith became a partner, changing the name of the company to Wm. Day Jnr & Co, with William Hunter becoming a partner in 1948 and changing its name to Day, Smith & Hunter.

Based in Eclipse Park, its previous locations have included Prentis Chambers and Star House in Pudding Lane.

It opened a practice in Harrow in 1958, moving to its present home in Rickmansworth in 1994, where it will continue to trade.

Mike Startup, partner at DSH, said: “We are delighted to be merging with Wilkins Kennedy, which has a similar client base to ourselves and shares our ethos with regard to client care.

“As well as enabling us to offer enhanced specialist advice, this deal gives us access to services such as corporate finance and recovery and restructuring which we have not previously been able to provide, and will help us to further grow the office’s client offering.”