Bradford businessman Ken Morrison's wealth has soared by £150 million since last year.

The supermarket boss is now Britain's 22nd richest man - up six places on last year's figures.

Mr Morrison has been so successful in the last 12 months that he has been adding nearly £3 million a week to his personal fortune, which is now estimated at £650 million.

Mr Morrison's wealth is taken from a rich list to be published by The Sunday Times tomorrow.

On Thursday more than 2,000 Morrisons workers in Bradford celebrated a average profit share of £450 each. The firm, which employs 28,000 nation-wide, has paid a profit share to staff for the last 20 years.

Making its first entry in the list, at number 428, is Jonathan Wild and Family who own Bettys & Taylors. The Harrogate-based confectioner and restaurant group have a tea room in Ilkley and a £50 million fortune.

But it is 66-year-old Mr Morrison who continues to move swiftly up the list.

He took over the business in 1957 when the family were Bradford market traders. He has masterminded the company's growth since the first supermarket opened in Girlington in 1961 and now employs more than 3,000 local people. And he is still known to occasionally serve behind the fish counter at stores.

The William Morrison supermarket group is now branching out into the south east, although Mr Morrison gave up the managing director's job last year.

By the end of this year the group will have 91 superstores and thanks to a successful year with share prices, the company continues to flourish.

Mr Morrison - who steadfastly refuses to comment about the size of his wealth - was worth £400 million in 1993 but his fortune dived to £320 million when share prices fell.

He bounced back in 1995 when he was worth £400 million and a year later his worth was put at £420 million. The report tomorrow will also show Mr Morrison is joined by Bradford entrepreneurs David Hood, Barry Rubery, Rhys Marks and Barry Burns.

Ilkley man Noel Bailey and Keighley businessmen Thomas and Gordon Black are also in the top 1,000.

Pace Micro Technology chief Mr Hood and his former business partner Mr Rubery are still on the rich list - although both have experienced a dramatic drop in fortunes.

Mr Hood's wealth is £88 million compared with last year's £200 million and he has dropped to 251st. Mr Rubery has £40 million and is placed at 562nd.

Mr Burns, chairman of Spectrum Computers, has moved up from 360th to joint 313th with £70 million. Mr Marks is also on the up in the rankings to 428th, despite dropping to £60 million to £50 million.

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