THE wealthy are getting wealthier in the UK and moneymakers in the South West are no exception.

Several local residents have appeared in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2011, including a vacuum cleaner inventor, a engineering firm owner and a best-selling author.

The top earner in the South West, yet again, was inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, who lives just outside Sodbury on the outskirts of Gloucestershire.

He has increased his wealth by £530 million in the past 12 months to bring his fortune to a wopping £1.45 billion.

Wotton-under-Edge based owner of Renishaw plc Sir David McMurtry also made spectacular gains this year with his wealth growing 143 per cent to £425 million.

The successes of Renishaw was further proved by the wealth of John Deer, a founder of the company, who also appeared on the rich list with £200 million.

Top-selling author of seven Harry Potter books J K Rowling, who grew up in Chipping Sodbury, increased her wealth to £530 million.