THE average wage for full-time workers in Kirklees has risen 4% this year, said a report today.

Figures from the GMB general union showed that the average weekly wage in the district now stands at £415.97, against £399.82 a year ago.

Kirklees is 71st on a pay league of 192 council areas ranked according to the percentage increase.

Bromley in Kent topped the table, with an 11.4% rise in average earnings.

It was followed by Cornwall and the Scilly Isles on 10.9% and Derby on 10.6%.

Nineteen areas reported wage rises of 7% or more.

But average earnings fell in 31 areas, with Gwynedd in north-west Wales footing the table with an 8.6% drop.

Average pay across Yorkshire rose by 3.7%, the survey showed.

Wakefield workers won the biggest average increase in West Yorkshire, with a 6.1% rise to £437. Bradford rose 5.6% to £426.55 and Calderdale 4.7% (£449).

Average pay rose just 2.4% in Leeds, but the average weekly wage remains the highest in the area at £439.06.

A senior GMB official, Paul Kenny, said the UK figures showed wide variations, adding: "In the past 12 months, a lot of factors have caused ups and downs in the average pay packet.

"The slowdown in the financial sector hit London and the South-East and the continuing recession in manufacturing has affected the North- East and West Midlands."

Mr Kenny said pay rates also reflected the "catching-up exercise" for public sector workers.