A Teignbridge estate agent has become the first in the county to be licensed under a new scheme to rid the industry of its roguish 'Arthur Daley' characters.

Richard Copus and his Ashburton branch of Woods have become the first in Devon to register.

The National Association of Estate Agents launched the initiative at the House of Commons last week.

The scheme requires every licensed office to have a licensed agent working there for at least 70 per cent of the week.

Mr Copus said: 'This is the most important thing to happen to estate agency for half a century.

'Licensing at last means that the public has a real choice in which agent to choose.'  

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