SCARBOROUGH Building Society, one of the oldest in the world, has announced that its assets are up 3.5 per cent, to £1.23bn.

Chairman Geoff Winn revealed in his annual report that gross lending is now £235m, while savers' balances have reached £790m.

The society, which is shortly to move to new £10m headquarters on the outskirts of Scarborough, has seen its pre-tax profit rise to £3.9m and its gross capital reach £76m, said Mr Winn.

A spokesman said: "The society has maintained the quality of its lending, invested in the business, systems and staff and managed the pre tax profit levels to ensure the financial strength of the society continues to improve.