North East brands make the Sunday Times Rich List

MILLIONAIRE OWNERS OF BARBOUR AND HAYS TRAVEL AMONG RICHEST IN COUNTRY

- By SAM VOLPE

THE Barbour family and Dame Irene Hays are among the richest people in the North East - and the UK - according to this year’s Sunday Times Rich List.

The North East rich list is topped by Teesside businessmen Alastair and Michael Powell, who have an estimated wealth of £701m. That's derived from their firm the Cleveland Cable Company.

Second on the list is the Hays family - with the wealth of Dame Irene and the rest of the famed Sunderland travel agency family estimated at £591m.

Able UK’s Peter Stephenson and family ranks joint second in the region - also with an estimated wealth of £591m.

Dame Margaret and Helen Barbour are then fourth - with £580m. This year has seen an increase in their wealth - associated with the South Shields-based Barbour fashion brand - by almost £50m, though they have also donated more than £29m to good causes through their foundation.