WEEKLY pay packets in Bolton rose by an average of £21.69, or 5.8 per cent, to £396.77 in the year from 2002 to 2003.

The figures, based on average comparisons between the two years, put Bolton 31st in a list of towns throughout Britain.

However, Bury is fourth from the bottom of the list with the average pay packet having decreased from £422.47 in 2003 to £400.11 in 2003, a drop of 5.3 per cent.

Figures compiled by the GMB union of gross weekly pay for full-time workers show that there was an overall growth of 2.4 per cent for Great Britain as a whole.

Bromley in Kent led the list with the largest increase, while Gwynedd in Wales suffered the biggest decrease.

Blackburn with Darwen was 11th with an average wage of £399.93 but Knowsley, Merseyside, was seventh with £448.38.