FOOTBALL hero Alan Shearer and two business entrepreneurs have been revealed as the top three highest earners in the North-East.

The wealthy trio are featured in the first breakdown of Britain's top 500 earners.

The Sunday Times Pay List, published tomorrow, examines cash earnings between October 1999 and October 2000, either from careers, dividends, share sales or windfalls.

While previous rich lists have been published showing wealth and assets owned, there has never been a list ranking earnings.

In the North-East, John Weatherill, chairman of the fast-growing JWE Telecom company, based near York, is in the top slot.

Mr Weatherill earned £9.29m in the past year, which puts him at number 106 in the national rankings.

He is closely followed by Newcastle United star and former England captain Alan Shearer. Sponsorship deals, public appearances and a massive pay packet for appearing on the pitch have made Shearer the highest-earning footballer in the North-East with £4.25m.

But he has a way to go to match fellow England player David Beckham whose earnings were £5.2m, while his pop star wife Victoria Adams brought home £2.15m.

A spokesman for the highest earners list said: "Forget the aristocracy, there is new money in Britain and more if it than every before."

The third biggest earner in the region is Peter Vardy of Sunderland-based car company Reg Vardy. He earned £3.83m, which places him at 213 in the national list.

The list of highest-paid entertainers is lead by TV celebrity and businessman Chris Evans with £35.5m, ahead of boxer Lennox Lewis (£30m) and pop superstar Sir Elton John (£25.9m).