HERE comes a surprise for the big spenders of the London commuter belt. It is not so grim up north after all.

Based on their residents' disposable income, several northern constituencies are classed as richer than supposedly opulent southern boroughs. In North Yorkshire, Harrogate, Knaresborough and the Vale of York have all been placed high up in the Barclays' survey. Tatton in Cheshire came top, and it is amusing to learn that certain Sheffield residents are better off than the toffs from Kensington and Chelsea.

Having endured years of the South-East flaunting its riches, it is tempting to despatch a party of Yorkshire folk to Watford Gap services to flash their wad at their poorer southern cousins. But that would be vulgar.

Anyway, these isolated patches of wealth do not add up to a hill of beans. York, always a low-wage city, is way down the list and there is shocking poverty in too many areas of the North, both rural and urban.

However, we remain rich in the things that Barclays could never measure: colourful characters, community spirit and cracking countryside.

Updated: 10:28 Wednesday, May 14, 2003