Members of Britannia Building Society have voted to stay mutual, and staved off attempts by a carpetbagger to gain a seat on the board.

At the annual general meeting on Thursday, it was announced that 'carpetbagger' Richard Yendall received support from only 16% of votes, and therefore failed to win a seat on the board.

The ballot attracted the biggest ever turn-out with more than 370,000 members or 30% of those eligible to vote returning their voting forms.

Members voted five to one in favour of the board's four recommended pro-Mutual candidates - chief executive Graham Stow, operations director John Suffolk and non-executive directors Bridget Rosewell and Rhidian Jones.

Remains independent

Britannia Chairman Barrie Bernstein said after the mutual's annual general meeting in Stoke-on-Trent, that the society remained committed to mutuality.

He said: "Britannia members have shown their clear and unequivocal support for their society remaining independent and mutually owned."

"We remain committed to staying mutual because this allows us to maximise the value and service we offer to our members."

Britannia pledged 10p to MacMillan Cancer Relief for every voting form received.

Special care baby units at the North Staffordshire and Ipswich hospitals will share nearly �37,000.