Former Royal butler Michael Hardern has failed in his attempt to force the Skipton Building Society to turn into a bank or win a place on its board - his second rejection in a week by a Building Society.

Directors last night rejected his bid on the grounds that it was invalid on both counts. The chief carpetbagger did not have enough valid members supporting his bid for conversion to a bank or to join the board.

Carpetbaggers need the support of 50 people with either £100 in a savings account for more than two years or a mortgage with the building society for the same length of time.

Mr Hardern has made a bid to convert seven building societies into banks and sit on their boards.

The Skipton last week announced the creation of 600 jobs thanks to rapid expansion.

A year from now the building society's £9.1 million headquarters extension will be complete and the company will begin the process of taking on more than double its existing local workforce.

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