SOUTHAMPTON'S highest-paid director earned £1m last year, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Alan Wilson, the driving force behind life insurer Skandia, saw his salary package jump by £301,000 on the back of a successful year for the firm, which has 1,700 staff in the city.

A company spokeswoman defended the size of Mr Wilson's pay packet, saying it was a result of strong performance.

She added that last year's results showed Skandia UK was the fastest growing business of its type in the country.

Mr Wilson was one of 36 directors in the south who earned more than £1m.

The highest earner in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was Ian Much.

In his last year as chief executive of security printer De La Rue in Basingstoke, which produces more than 150 national currencies, he received £1.1m.

How much does your boss earn? See today's Business section.