Directors at a Burley-in-Wharfedale-based business shared bonuses of £415,000 after sales and profits soared, according to its annual report.

Keith Chapman, executive chairman of home shopping and educational supplies group Findel, received a £180,000 bonus and £305,000 salary as part of a package of £507,000 in the financial year to March 31 2002.

Last year he received £464,000 the previous year. David Johnson, chief executive, received a £146,000 bonus and £250,000 salary as part of a package of £420,000 - up from £378,000 last year.

Ivan Bolton, director and company secretary, received a £89,000 bonus and £158,000 salary as part of a £265,000 package, up from £232,000 last year.

During the year the group saw operating profits rise by 34 per cent to £34.5 million up from £25.7 million the previous year.

Sales at the group rose by 38 per cent to £333 million, up from £241million. Mr Chapman said: "I thank all of the group's employees for their hard work and commitment. Their enthusiasm and initiative have enabled us to meet new challenges and develop plans for the long term future."

During the year the number of staff employed by the group rose to 3,079 from 2,285. Despite Findel's performance the Chartered Management Institute has just released figures which reveal that directors' pay packets have risen by just 5.9 per cent in the year to January 2002.

The figure is less than half the 12.9 per cent average increase last year and the lowest in ten years.

Half of directors in the UK received a bonus last year, down from two thirds the year before.

The value of bonuses also fell from 27 per cent to 23 per cent.

Mary Chapman, chief executive of the CMI, said: "Given that bonuses provide a strong indicator of company and personal performance, these figures further demonstrate the unsettled economic climate over the past year."