THREE Bury men have been named on an annual 'rich list'.

Each year, the Sunday Times publishes a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the UK.

The newspaper has given an early sneak peak by revealing the top 20 richest people in the North West.

The Duke of Westminster tops the list with a £9.35 billion fortune, up £790 million last year.

In third place is Bury-born John Whittaker and family, which has £2.35bn, a fall of £30m on last year. They are ranked 34 nationally.

Mr Whittaker's development company Peel Group owns shopping centres and airports, as well as Media City.

In 2011, he sold the Trafford Centre.

In 12th place is Henry Moser and family, who have maintained their £600 million fortune and are in 205th place nationally.

Mr Moser, of Bury, is the chief executive of mortgage lender Jerrold Holdings.

In 19th place on the North West list is Geoffrey Halstead and family, who are from Bury and make floor coverings and motorbike parts and its flagship Polyflor site is in Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield.

The family is worth £487 million, which is £137 million up on last year. They are in 240th place nationally.

THE 20 RICHEST IN THE NORTH WEST

1. The Duke of Westminster — £9.35bn

2. Tom Morris and family — £3.05bn

3. John Whittaker and family — £2.34bn

4. Simon, Bobby and Robin Arora — £1.92bn

5. Fred and Peter Done — £1.3bn

6. Lord Grantchester and the Moores family — £1.2bn

7. Philip Day — £1.05bn

8. Peter Jones and family — £791m

9. Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell — £760m

10. Trevor Hemmings — £725m

11. Mohsin and Zuber Issa — £700m

12. Henry Moser and family — £600m

13. Michael Oliver and family — £580m

14. The Sheppard family — £540m

15. The Walker family — £530m

15. The Warburton family — £530m

17. Bill Ainscough and family — £500m

17. John Hargreaves and family — £500m

19. Geoffrey Halstead and family — £487m

20. Michael Oglesby and family — £475m