Christopher Longley, CHP sales director, said that the merger was an "inevitable" step after many years of close ties between the companies. He said that retiring Ashmore directors had sold their shares in the company to CHP managing director Tim Higgins, who had been on the Ashmore board for some years.

Longley added that the deal would give London- and Sussex-based CHP a "dedicated production facility" in Sussex, where it currently runs a finishing house.

Higgins remains managing director of the enlarged company, while CHP production manager Phil Lagan has become general manager for the Sussex area. The company will trade both as CHP and Ashmore.