Nationwide, the Swindon building society, is celebrating an excellent six months. Its pre-tax profits, announced today, are up 22.2 per cent to £188.4 million on this time last year.

Philip Williamson, Nationwide chief executive, said: "This has been an excellent six months for the society.

"Customers are coming to Nationwide in record numbers.

"They have been staying with us because of our fair pricing policies."

He added that Nation-wide, which employs more than 3,000 people at Pipers Way, had also performed well with mortgages and online business.