A FAMILY-run chain of holiday parks is expanding in its 60th year with the acquisition of two new sites.

Shorefield Holidays added the two parks to its established six with the help of a loan facility from HSBC.

The business, based at Milford-on-Sea, is one of the UK’s leading family-run holiday park businesses.

It acquired New Forest Lodge Retreat at Milford last year and recently held an official opening by the mayor of Lymington and Pennington, Cllr Barry Dunning.

The park has been turned into a gated community of 12 holiday ownership lodges, with a health and fitness club, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room and spa bath. Next door is Lavender House, which can sleep up to 14 people in seven en suite rooms and has its own cinema room.

The company’s eighth site is Wilksworth Caravan Park at Wimborne, which it bought earlier this year and which offers privately-owned holiday homes as well as camping and tourism families.

The acquisitions were funded from a 10-year loan facility put in place by HSBC to help the business seize new opportunities. HSBC has also agreed a working capital facility and an ongoing asset finance facility for buying new hire fleet caravans.

Sara Bertin, finance director of Shorefield Holidays, said: “This is a very special year for us and it couldn’t have started better with the official opening of one new park and the acquisition of another taking us to eight parks.

“Our strategy as a business is one of growth and investment so that we can offer new and improved facilities together with the best accommodation for our holidaymakers and holiday home owners.”

She added: “We have been providing holidays in some of the most beautiful locations this country has to offer for 60 years. We are committed to not only continuing this, but to growth and improvement for many years to come.”

Anthony Reed, HSBC’s area director for Hampshire and Dorset, said: “We are delighted to have begun working with Shorefield Holidays and to have the opportunity to devise and implement a tailored finance facility that not only supports the business in its 60th year, but that will continue to support it as it progresses with its ambitious acquisition strategy in the years ahead.”