TWENTY successive years of growth will be reported at the annual general meeting of the Nelson Community Credit Union.

The meeting at the Silverman Hall, Nelson, on Friday, February 22, will be told of another year of success with a growth in assets of ten per cent, share savings up by 9.5 per cent and membership increased by 7.5 per cent.

In his annual report president Lou Gildea plans to tell the meeting: "Our 20th year produced yet another year of success. Only the mutual and communal effort of you the members make it possible to sustain twenty successive years of growth, you should be justly proud of your achievement."

Mr Gildea will also say that the theme for this year was "Bringing the Community Together".

He adds: "We really do mean the whole of the community, there should be no exclusions. We will be pro-active in seeking to network with all existing and new community groups or organisations in order to achieve our aims thus making the benefits of credit union membership available to all."

Mr Gildea also says in his report that thanks to sponsorship of Pendle Council information about the credit union had gone to all council employees offering a special payment facility via payroll deduction.

"We look forward to council employees taking advantage of this opportunity," he adds.

The group has also launched its first school credit union at St John Southworth RC primary school, Nelson.

The credit committee will report that for the third year successive year loans to members have been in excess of half a million pounds.

The surplus for the year is reported at £25,826 and total net assets at £726,823.