One hundred extra jobs have been created at Norwich Union Life in York in the past year - and there could be more to come.

Chief Executive Philip Scott revealed today that the life assurance and pensions giant now employs 2,400 people at offices in the city centre and Clifton Moor, making it one of York's biggest employers.

He said it had enjoyed a 20 per cent growth in new business in the last year in a largely flat market.

Mr Scott was speaking on the day that parent company CGNU, created through the merger last year of CGU and Norwich Union, announced that last year's UK floods and storms in France had together cost it £285 million.

CGNU said operating profits before tax had fallen from £2.5 billion to £1.4 billion.

Updated: 12:10 Tuesday, February 27, 2001