LOCAL workers are among the "winners" in a new survey showing which areas of the country have seen the biggest - and smallest - increases in earnings.

The East Riding, North Yorkshire and York all scored higher than the national average for pay increases between April 2001 and April 2002.

The East Riding came in at 36th, with weekly earnings rising from £385.11 to £411.39, an increase of £26.28, or 6.8 per cent.

In the Durham University figures, released by the GMB union, North Yorkshire was just two places lower, with weekly wages rising from £380.78 in 2001 to £406.18 this April, an increase of £25.40, or 6.7 per cent.

In York, wages rose from £406.05 to £427.21, an increase of £21.16 or 5.2 per cent.

The national average wage rose from £444.22 to £464.75, and while the base pay figure is higher than any of those for local workers, the increase over the year is lower, at £20.53, or 4.6 per cent.

GMB official and TUC General Council member Paul Kenny said: "Above all these figures demonstrate the imbalances in the UK economy." He added it pointed to the need for the Government to have a proactive regional policy.

Updated: 13:11 Wednesday, October 30, 2002