BUSINESS bosses in East Lancashire have made paper fortunes worth tens of millions of pounds on the back of a booming stock market.

Top of the tycoons is Duncan Sharpe, 39, son-in-law of former Rovers star David Whelan, who has seen the value of his shares in JJB jump by more than £80million during 1999 as the share price recovered after plummeting in 1998.

He now owns shares worth more than £143million in the Wigan-based firm.

The former golf professional, who lives in the Ribble Valley, joined the firm in 1983 as an area manager before working his way up to managing director.

David Whelan, who began his retailing career with a corner shop he bought while still playing for Blackburn Rovers, saw his stake rise by almost £62million to more than £108million.

The strong rise in Ultraframe shares this year has seen employees and directors at the Clitheroe firm enjoy a big jump in their paper fortunes. Founder John Lancaster saw his paper stake in the firm rise by more than £44million to £122million.

David Moore, newly appointed chief executive, saw his stake rise by £2.8million to £7.26million during the year.

Alwin Thompson, chief executive of Blackburn based bakery firm Inter Link, saw his holding in the firm rise by more than £530,000 after shares in the firm almost doubled during the year.

And David Taylor, chief executive of Enterprise plc, made a paper profit of £18,095 on shares he bought in Feburary. Since then they have risen in value by 43 per cent.

Airtours supremo David Crossland was the biggest loser - a small fall in the travel giant's shares knocked £10million off his £185million stake.

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