A Keighley-based 'green-thinking' building society has announced a growth in assets to more than £45 million.

The Ecology Building Society, which has its headquarters in Cross Hills, announced a 15 per cent increase in assets in the year ending December, 2002.

It said assets had grown to £45.6 million in the period and lending had remained strong with completions up by 21.6 per cent on 2001 at £8.8 million.

At December 31, 2002, total mortgages fully secured on residential property and land stood at just short of £34 mil-lion.

Chief executive Paul Ellis said the results were testimony to how healthy growth and concern for the environment could go hand-in-hand.

The building society, which was set-up in 1981, is dedicated to improving the environment by promoting sustainable housing and sustainable communities.

It gives mortgages to enable people to develop energy efficient housing, ecological renovation, improve derelict properties and for small scale ecological enterprises.

"Our success is down to having a unique lending focus, our close contact with the customers and our understand-ing of green, local and traditional building technologies," said Mr Ellis.

The building society is currently preparing to move to a new purpose-built 'low-impact' headquarters in Silsden. It is due to be completed by August.