Darlington Building Society's commitment to looking after its own has won national recognition.

The society was presented with the Community Service Award for regional lenders at the 2002 Mortgage Finance Gazette awards, held at the Gibson Hall in London.

TV presenter Angela Rippon handed the prize to Peter Rowley, chief executive of the society.

Further recognition came when the society was runner-up in the Arts Award category.

To prove that things come in threes, the society was also presented with the runners-up award in the Arts, Business and Community category at the 2002 Arts and Business Awards held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.

Mr Rowley said: "Accolades for our corporate citizenship are always appreciated and enhance the society's image and profile.

"However, our principal objective remains to sustain the financial wellbeing of our members and this year, to date, we have retained existing and won new business in our core retail savings and home finance markets."