LHH Scotland and Dorset-based Lyme Bay Holidays will operate as sister agencies following the Sykes deal, adding a further 450 properties to its portfolio.

It means Sykes now offers more than 22,000 cottages across the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, up from around 5,000 five years ago.

The acquisitions will, in particular, increase Sykes’ options in Scotland, Dorset and Devon.

Balblair-based LHH Scotland manages more than 125 holiday homes across Scotland, with around half of these in the Outer Hebrides.

Lyme Bay Holidays, meanwhile, was founded more than 40 years ago and has been run by the Matthews family for more than 20 years.

The acquisitions follow those of Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages and Best of Suffolk last year.

Graham Donoghue, chief executive of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “It’s great to bolster our portfolio of holiday homes in Scotland, Dorset and Devon ahead of what’s shaping up to be our busiest summer on record.

“By utilising our market-leading technology and making these holiday homes available to Sykes’ huge customer base, we’ll help LHH and Lyme Bay’s property owners reap the rewards of growing demand for staycations.

“With the support of our regional sister companies, we’re now trusted by the owners of 22,000 holiday homes throughout the UK and Ireland and two million travellers each year.”