DUDLEY Building Society treated around 700 of its members and staff to a night at the museum to celebrate soaring profits.

The free event, at the Black Country Living Museum, kicked off the society's member event programme.

Members were able to bring along family and friends to enjoy the fun-filled evening out.

The society, which formed in 1858, saw profit before tax at the end of March 2015 rise to £887,000 - a 60 per cent increase on last year’s results.

During the last year, mortgage lending topped £52 million and the society's total assets have increased from £319 million to £328.7 million, which it says provides a "very stable base" for the future.

Among the positive comments received following the evening treat was from building society member Alison Job, who said: “We wanted to thank the Dudley Building Society for treating us to a great evening. I can't stop telling everyone about it.”

The society decided not to print its Member Review this year to do its bit for the environment by using less paper.

And the savings made from not printing the brochures were put towards hosting the Black Country Living Museum night out.

As a mutual society, profit is reinvested to benefit members, rather than generating profit for shareholders.

Society members also donated a total of £158.26 as part of a charity collection on the night for the Georgina Unit at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital.

Now the society, which has 4,770 borrowing and 31,063 investing members, has pledged to organise many more events to suit all tastes throughout the year.

Among them is the society's annual meeting, being held on Thursday (July 23) at 2pm at the Copthorne Hotel, Merry Hill, when Will Farmer, the ceramics and glass expert of Antiques Roadshow fame, will talk to members and provide valuations.

Any members interested in attending the event should contact the society by calling 01384 231414, emailing at enquires@dudleybuildingsociety.co.uk or visiting one of the branches.