video transcript

When Francine Levinson started a property business last year she hadn't planned on hocking the family jewels to raise extra cash. But when Britain's housing market dried up so did her finances. With her credit already stretched to the limit a bank loan wasn't an option. SOUNDBITE: Francine Levinson, property developer, saying (English): "I needed about £6,000 and that was about all the jewellery that I had really. I had these two bracelets, one was my granny's and one was my wedding present and they were the most valuable things I had." Francine is one of an increasing number of people from Britain's so-called middle classes turning to pawnbrokers to secure a short-term loan. SOUNDBITE: Francine Levinson, property developer, saying (English): "It was nice them not poking into my credit report and my financial history but just saying ok you've got something that's worth this, we'll give you this, it was just much nicer." It's here in the London Silver Vaults where pawnbrokers Borro store their client's valuables. Paul Aiken is the company's founder and managing director. SOUNDBITE: Paul Aiken, founder and managing director, Borro.com, saying (English): "What we've got here is some Indian gold. We do a lot of loan against Indian gold, it's dowry gold so Indian families give each other gold when they get married. This is part of a loan for about £3,000." Paul employs of team of experts who value the goods. They'll typically loan 70 percent of the market value on jewellery and 50 percent on bigger items. There are no credit checks and no waiting. The money can be in the customers bank account within minutes. SOUNDBITE: Paul Aiken, founder and managing director, Borro.com, saying (English): "We do do quite a lot of loans above a hundred thousand pounds. We've got hedge fund managers, we've got a lot of property developers who have made a lot of money over the last ten years." There is some risk attached - if you can't payback the loan - the pawnbrokers will sell the goods on your behalf. But they'll only keep what's owed - giving you any profit the sale makes. Francine repaid her loan. At 4 percent interest per month the 6,000 pounds she borrowed over six months cost her 1,800 pounds. It wasn't cheap but granny's jewels are now safe and Francine says the loan ensured her business survived. Hayley Platt, Reuters.