SAINTS sponsor insurance giant Friends Provident said an increase in business from independent financial advisers had helped it boost UK sales by a fifth.

The rise helped to lift first quarter total UK sales to £88 million from £74 million beforehand and the group reports total new life and pensions annual premiums rising 41 per cent to £129 million.

Since listing on the stock market in 2001, Friends has seen its funds under management grow four-fold, from £30 billion to more than £120 billion.

The group, which currently has a 4.3 per cent share of the UK life and pensions market, said it expected to increase its market share further during the course of this year.