Spice acquired the business after making a payment of £1.5 million.

The consideration was paid on completion, with a further sum due equivalent to twice the operating profit of Homerton for the 13 months to April next year. Homerton director Tony Ward remains with the business.

The deal expands Spice’s public services division, which now has 315 gas engineers, and is part of its strategy of building a national group through buying regional businesses.

Homerton installs, services and maintains gas appliances and heating systems in 7,000 domestic and commercial properties owned by social housing bodies and local authorities primarily in the south of England. It was established in 1996 and has 22 employees.