SUPERMARKET supremo Sir Ken Morrison has dropped down the league of Yorkshire's richest business brains, according to the latest Sunday Times rich list.

East Yorkshire-based property tycoon Eddie Healey, who owns the Warter estate, near Pocklington, and was the man behind the Meadowhall shopping centre, in Sheffield, keeps the Yorkshire top spot, which last year he shared with Sir Ken. Mr Healey, who is said to be worth £1,260 million, is 13th nationally, down from ninth place.

Sir Ken, who pioneered Wm Morrison supermarkets and who lives at Myton-on-Swale, near Boroughbridge, is now in third place in Yorkshire with a fortune of £850 million - down from £1,300 million according to last year's list. Nationally, he is ranked 25th, down from ninth.

Robert Miller is a high new entry to the county's top ten, ranking second in Yorkshire and 22 nationally with £975 million. He owns the 32,000-acre Gunnerside sporting estate in North Yorkshire, and made his money from the Duty Free Shoppers chain.

Harrogate-based Internet entrepreneur Paul Sykes, who was also involved in developing Meadowhall, is fourth richest in the county with £495 million, down from third. Nationally, he's ranked 59 from 61 last year.

The man behind York-based CPP Holdings, Hamish Ogston, stands at fifth in Yorkshire with a fortune of £390 million, down from fourth last year. He takes the 82nd place nationally, up from 89th.

Peter Wilkinson, who owns a stake in Harrogate firm Intechnology, is eighth in the county, down from seventh, with £205 million. He's ranked 155th nationally, down from 140.

The Shepherd Family, which owns York-based Shepherd Building, is estimated to be worth £165 million and stands at ninth place in the county, down from eighth place last year. Nationally, they stand at 192 down from 157.

The 15th annual Sunday Times Rich List will be published tomorrow in a special 104-page supplement, which profiles the 1,000 richest people and families in Britain.

Updated: 10:33 Saturday, April 26, 2003