JAMES Townsend has joined Akermans Chartered Surveyors full time after graduating from Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, with a first class honours degree in real estate management.

JAMES Townsend has joined Akermans Chartered Surveyors full time after graduating from Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, with a first class honours degree in real estate management.

Mr Townsend, who was recently awarded the RICS Eastern Region prize for achieving excellence consistently throughout the surveying programme, will be based at the firm's Ipswich office.

He will be covering all aspects of residential and commercial surveying practice.

Before his degree, he gained experience with Akermans Chartered Surveyors and local estate agents Goddard & Co, Ipswich, and Paul Wright, Stowmarket.

He was born in Suffolk and is a former pupil of St Joseph's College in Ipswich. He plays football for Stonham Athletic and is a keen golfer.