Changing from Sole trader to Ltd company

Hi

I am currently trading as a sole trader and would like to change from trading in this way to being a ltd company, I would like to still trade as normal with my name and srvices the same just want to change legal status. What would I need to do, do I stop trading as sole trader and inform HMRC that I have stop trading as this and wind up my accounts. Then start my ltd company with a fresh set of accounts from scratch with nothing to do with my sole trader company or is there a way I can transfer my account balances from this into my Ltd company and if so how would I do this. Just carry the Balance sheet figures over after the business has been wound up.

Any advice please would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Alfred