Bluefin has bolstered its presence in Cumbria after snapping up Lakeland Insurance Advisers.

Lakeland has 1,400 clients and deals mainly in commercial SME and personal lines business.

The purchase follows on from Bluefin’s acquisition in February of Lakeland Insurance Services, the guesthouse insurance specialist.

Bluefin chief executive Stuart Reid said: “Lakeland Insurance Advisers presented an ideal strategic fit with Bluefin’s business and people. We are pleased to welcome them and their clients under the Bluefin banner as we pursue our ambitious plans to grow the business.”

Reid said he would continue to hunt for acquisitions but any new purchase would have to “bolt on” easily to the Bluefin business model.

He is confident Bluefin, which currently has £700m gross written premium, will hit its £1bn target by 2012.

Elsewhere, Heath Lambert has appointed Ron Doidge and Brenda Thwaites, both formerly of Bluefin’s SBJ, to help expand the business.