MORE than 100 millionaires live in Ilkley, making it one of the richest towns in the country, according to a new survey.

Figures compiled by Euro Direct, a trading and marketing firm, show there are 112 millionaires living in the town - the same number as upmarket Poole in Dorset.

According to Euro Direct, which targeted the fortunes of shareholders of the top 500 companies, this makes it one of the few places outside London and the South-East to make it into the rich towns league table.

While no other town in Yorkshire even gets a mention, Ilkley is rated 42nd in the country. This is higher than footballers' paradise Altrincham in Cheshire, which includes Alderley Edge and Bowdon (108 millionaires)

and South Kensington in London (99).

The Mayor of Bradford, Coun Richard Wightman, who lives in Menston, said he was not surprised by the findings.

"There has been a lot of money in the town for 150 years," he said. "Some is old money, but many people have moved into the area in the last 25 years as the population has boomed.

"I know many millionaires from all backgrounds - business, farming, the professions, the public and private sector. Houses in some areas cost £600,000 so you are nearly at £1m already.

Being a millionaire now isn't the same as it was in the 1950s. New millionaires are being created every day."

Kate Brown, chairman-elect of Ilkley Parish Council, said that given the current Stock Market, she thought the figure might be exaggerated.

"I have never met any millionaires," she said. "But it is a beautiful place in which to live, with the Dales on the doorstep."

Another Ilkley councillor, Dale Smith, who represents Rombalds on Bradford Council, said the town had built its reputation on being a spa and now had the added attractions of good links to Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.

"It is the jewel in the Bradford district and its prosperity benefits the whole area."

The findings come as no surprise to David Waddington, of Crosby Homes, Leeds., which has two Ilkley mansions on the market at the moment for more than £1 million each.

He said: "Ilkley is a majestic place. It is very mature and very classical, which is rarely found in towns in the North."

In a list of Britain's wealthiest towns - dominated by London and the South-East - Hampstead came out top with 294 millionaires, with Chelsea (228) and Putney (184) also in the top ten.

Patrick McCutcheon, of Dacre, Son and Hartley, says property hunters know exactly what they are after when they choose Ilkley as their next home - and are willing to pay for it.

He said: "I think it is noticeable that there's a much greater number of people with high disposable levels of capital wanting to purchase here.

"Our starting point for property requests compared to some other offices within our group is significantly higher.

"House buyers do examine areas, either through the Internet or property agents, before they start looking for places to buy.

"I think they come to Ilkley for all kinds of reasons - there are only two sets of traffic lights here, it's a very positive living environment, there is a good mix of amenities in terms of quality restaurants, sports clubs and shops, and all on the doorstep of this fantastic countryside.

"Add to that the fact the town offers direct access to Leeds and Bradford and you can see why it is so attractive, and why the property market is buoyant."

Mr McCutcheon added that the first £1 million property in Ilkley was sold around three years ago, and he predicts there "won't be long to wait" until the £2 million barrier is broken.

Dacre, Son and Hartley themselves are currently handling the sale of a £1.45 million mansion in Heber's Ghyll Drive, the most expensive property currently on sale in the town.

Julian Martinez-Perez, meanwhile, owner of Martinez Fine Wine on The Grove, says local people's palates tend to be quite refined, too.

He said: "I wouldn't discuss individual customers or their buying habits, but in general terms we do have quite a number of affluent people who come and spend considerable sums.

"At the top end for the fine wines we stock is something like Margot 45, a first growth Bordeaux. A case of that would sell for around £13,000 but no-one buys it in cases! A bottle costs between £800 and £1,000.

"But we do stock a lot of other wines in the £30 to £40 range and bottles of table wine can be just £2.99 - we aim to cater for everybody, but quality is the underlying thing."

Interior designer Carole Pickles, of Ilkley firm Paint Solutions, says she has several millionaire clients who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on their homes.

She recalls spending £10,000 on one customer's kitchen by giving it eight coats of a special finish paint. Another wanted a flatscreen television built into the door of a huge fridge freezer - at a cost of £8,000.

"That is a lot of money for a fridge", she said, but added that having millions of pounds to spend didn't stop people from asking for a discount- no matter how lavish they were being. This is Yorkshire after all.