Retirement home specialist McCarthy & Stone has continued its sell-off of property freeholds with an 拢11.4m deal.

Owners Provident, part of Consensus Business Group, acquired the freeholds last Thursday. They bring in about 拢660,000 a year.

The sale was the second deal under a long-term agreement struck between McCarthy & Stone and Owners Provident last July.

It covers freeholds on retirement properties in towns and cities including Cardiff, Plymouth, Northampton, Norwich and Yeovil.

The first sale under the deal was concluded in August last year and was worth 拢8.7m, on a portfolio that brings in 拢486,000 a year.

The housebuilder said it expected to sell more freeholds to Owners Provident "in the near future".

The deal comes three months after McCarthy & Stone reported a 14% fall in pre-tax profit to 拢127m.