LENDING RISE: UK building societies saw a rise in lending during 2012.

The Building Societies Association (BSA) said members had increased lending to homebuyers by nearly a third since 2012, borrowing £2.5bn in February this year, a 29 per cent increase on the same month 12 months ago.

Building societies were responsible for 23 per cent of all UK home loans in February, compared with 18 per cent in 2012.

The figures come as the Government rolls out its Help to Buy scheme, which allows homebuyers to put down a deposit of just five per cent.

HAULAGE RESULTS: Haulage firm Eddie Stobart said it had axed the role of executive chairman as it lifted full-year forecasts thanks to recent better trading.

The company said it expects to post annual results moderately ahead of market expectations and has cemented a three-year distribution deal with supermarket chain Tesco.

The group, which runs more than 2,200 trucks, cut the role of executive chairman after just two months, saying it was no longer appropriate amid improved trading.

Formerly deputy chief executive, Avril Palmer-Baunack was promoted to executive chairman in late January.

SALES ON ROCKS: The growth in Scotch whiskey exports has stalled, according to new figures.

The amount of whiskey exported in 2012 fell by five per cent to 1.19bn bottles.

The drop comes after exports grew by 23 per cent in 2011 and 10 per cent in 2010.

The value of single malt Scotch whisky exports has risen over the past decade to £778m.

The stagnant market has been blamed on large declines in key markets, with sales in France falling 25 per cent to 154m bottles.

MILL CLOSURE: More than 30 jobs have been lost at a 225-year-old textile mill. Caerlee Mills, in Innerleithen, in the Scottish Borders, has shut with the loss of 33 jobs.

The mill had been kept open by liquidators KPMG as a going concern, but no interest party came forward.

At its height, the mill, which dates back to 1788, employed 400 workers.