A family-owned four-star leisure resort company has taken over a popular four-star resort in Maldon.

Potters Leisure Limited, which trades as Potters Resorts, has bought the Five Lakes Resort in Tolleshunt Knights for an undisclosed sum.

Five Lakes is the second resort to join the 101-year-old company, which also has a site in Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk.

With 320 acres of land, 194 bedrooms, 2 golf courses, a huge arena space and a popular spa, Five Lakes will serve as another all-inclusive resort managed by the company to offer guests short breaks.

John Potter, the owner of Potters Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, said: "Five Lakes is a sleeping giant that will become another jewel within Potters Resorts.

"Its location is perfect for many of our existing guests and also opens up our unique short breaks offering to a wider London and South East market.

"I'm excited to welcome the Five Lakes team into the Potters Resorts family, and in turn, see them all welcoming our happy guests to Potters Five Lakes soon."

Five Lakes was bought and transformed by Abraham Bejerano, the proprietor of AB Hotels Limited, in October 1994.

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Abraham said: "Like us, Potters Resorts is a passionate family business committed to delivering customer excellence.

"It will be sad and emotional to let this fabulous property go as our 27 years of ownership, almost to the date, will always evoke happy and special memories for our family.

"However, we are very confident the hotel, our hard-working and loyal employees and our customers are left in very capable and caring hands and that John, his family and the management team will take the resort on to bigger and better things."

John added: "I am very grateful to the Bejerano family for entrusting Potters with the future of this fantastic asset they have created in the beautiful Essex countryside.

"We are going to have a lot of fun expanding Potters Resorts and continuing to offer the best and only all-inclusive resorts in the UK."