UP TO 55 staff at a Southampton-based property consultants are to share a record-breaking £70m bonus pool with nearly 2,000 of their colleagues across the UK.

Savills, which has its city office based at Brunswick Place, is famous in the property sector for its US-style largesse when it comes to sharing out the profits.

Secretaries will receive a few hundred pounds, with substantially more for directors.

The top earner is set to be London-based Simon Hope, who is line for a £2m bonus on the back of his job as investment director.

The company's Southampton arm, which has grown to 55 from a staff of 15 in less than three years, is overseen by director Martin Vaughan.

It has been involved in a number of lucrative commercial property transactions.

Savills, an estate agency and property consultancy, is also currently marketing the £25m offices at Charlotte Place in Southampton - the biggest speculative development of its kind in the city since 1990.

As well, the firm is behind the development brief for a four-star hotel, flats, offices and scenic walkways at Ocean Village marina, which is owned by marina giant MDL.

The firm is also involved in plans for flats at East Park Terrace, a prime city centre site.

According to experts, 2004 was the best year for commercial property investment in the UK, with more than £40 billion splashed out.

Mr Vaughan - a familiar figure in Southampton's business circles - was not immediately available for comment.