MORE people are choosing to invest with Darlington Building Society than ever before.

That was the message from the region's number one local building society, as it revealed interim results for the six months to June 30.

Gross investment receipts were up 26 per cent on the same period of the previous year.

The society now has assets of £450m under management, almost 9.5 per cent more than in June last year.

The number of savings accounts has also risen. More than 5,000 new savers chose to put their money in the Darlington, taking the total number of savings accounts to just under 110,000.

Pre-tax profit for the half-year, however, was unchanged on the same period last year, coming in at £1.6m.

Chief executive of the society, Peter Rowley, said yesterday: "Our individual savings accounts, fixed rate bonds and regular savings accounts have been particularly popular with both existing and new members.

"Improvements to our branch network, at a time when other institutions are closing branches, have also contributed to our buoyant inflow."

Mr Rowley was particularly pleased with the society's new estate agents, DEAL.

He described the launch of the agency in April, at the society's Tubwell Row branch, Darlington, as a "very encouraging start in response to member requests for a value-for-money professional service".

The Darlington has since opened its second branch of the agency in Hartlepool, earlier this month.

The society has more than 200 properties for sale across the region.

Another subsidiary of the society, Darlington Homes, has received planning permission to undertake a small residential development in Stanhope Road, in the centre of Darlington.

The Darlington increased its mortgage lending during the six-month period.

Total mortgage balances at June 30 stood at £345m, six per cent higher than 12 months previously.

The society's reserves now stand at £32m.