The booming holiday cottage market has prompted a move into new premises by one of the region's fastest growing operators.

Hetti Simpson started Norfolk Hideaways in 2009 with six properties on her books – a number which has grown to 300 during which time she has taken on 11 staff.

Now settling into a new larger office in Wells, having moved from The Granary in Burnham Deepdale, the team is celebrating a continuation of up to 28pc year on year growth. The company's June bookings are 33pc up on last year – a buoyant outlook reflected across the sector in East Anglia.

Ms Simpson, who has invested a significant sum in the renovation of the new headquarters, the former Big Blue Sky gift shop/gallery, said: 'The north Norfolk coast is one of the UK's best-loved and most popular tourism hotspots, its world class beaches attracting everyone from families to cyclists, walkers, birdwatchers and lovers of the great outdoors.

'While we've loved our years at Burnham Deepdale, it seems apt that our new offices are located in the 'Big Blue Sky' building; the name itself sums up part the area's unique appeal. All our staff were either born or have lived in the area for many years so, as local experts, are ideally placed to advise customers of the best things to see and do in the area, tailor-made to their interests and needs.'

She said she hoped the new headquarters would not only allow the business, portfolio and staff to further expand but also raise the company's profile as the market leader in holiday properties from Old Hunstanton to Cromer.

The former offices in Burnham Deepdale and Staithe Street, Wells are now being operated as satellite offices; with Burnham Deepdale staffed on Fridays and school holidays.

Lewis Lawson, sales and marketing manager of the Best of Suffolk agency, based in Badingham, near Framlingham, said it was also heading for a bumper year.

'We launched a new website before Christmas and have seen a huge increase in online bookings. Last time I looked, we were 30pc up on bookings compared to last year,' he said.

He added that the 300-property agency was growing with the addition of new cottages every week; there had been a real shift to tablet and mobile bookings which had driven the website upgrade.

Heather McCraith, general manager of Holt-based Norfolk Country Cottages which has 450 properties on its books, said: 'The market continues to be last minute, with sunshine having a big effect, but bookings are looking good going forward and we had more than 95pc occupancy over May half-term.'

Do you have a tourism story? Email stephen.pullinger@archant.co.uk