THE past year has been a good one for the super-rich of the North-East and North Yorkshire, according to the latest wealth survey.

Property, retailing, cars and even Harry Potter have all played their part in the success of those who don't have to count the change in their pocket.

The owner of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is revealed as the richest person in the North-East according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2003.

Alnwick Castle, which is hired out as the set for the Harry Potter films, is owned by the Duke of Northumberland, whose fortune is estimated at £300m.

But even his wealth pales beside that of North Yorkshire's highest earners, headed by Robert Miller, who owns the 32,000-acre Gunnerside sporting estate in the Yorkshire Dales.

His £975m puts him in 22nd place nationally. He made his money from the Duty Free Shoppers chain, which he co-founded in 1960. He sold his 38.75 per cent stake in the company for £949m in 1996.

Boroughbridge-based Sir Ken Morrison, is said to be worth £850m, thanks to his stake in the national supermarket chain that bears his name.

Paul Sykes, who lives on an estate at Studley Roger, near Ripon, made his £495m fortune through property development. Just after him comes the York Shepherd family, who made their £165m fortune in the construction industry.

Graham Wylie topped the North-East regional list in 2002 but, with £101m, falls to sixth place as Sage Group, the Newcastle management software group he co-founded in 1981, suffered from the fall in high-tech values.

Sir Richard Storey, the non-executive director of Sunderland football club who made his money in newspapers, is estimated to be worth £110m, and Steve Gibson, chairman of Middlesbrough football club is put at £85m.

The fortune of Sir Peter Vardy, of the car group, is put at £80m.