BOLTON Hospitals NHS Trust handed its board members pay increases of no more than 3.7pc to keep them in line with nurses' rises.

The trust was one of a handful in England to keep pay rises for its board members in line with those received by nurses.

The decision took chief executive John Brunt's salary of between £100,000 and £105,000 -- details are only released in bands of £5,000 -- which still makes him one of the top third of best paid Trust bosses, a new survey has revealed.

Other big earners include director of operations Beverley Andrew, who was paid £75,000-£80,000.

The Bolton Hospitals Trust increase of under four per cent contrasts with the situation nationwide. As many as a quarter of trusts -- some are refusing to release their figures -- may have handed board members pay rises of more than 20pc and in some cases as much as 30pc.

Those inflation-busting increases were highlighted in research published this week by analysts Incomes Data Services. Figures relate to the last financial year, ending in 2002. But while the cash-strapped trust -- which is facing a cash shorfall of £3.2 million for the financial year ending this Apri 1 and is so short of money it cannot afford to pay some suppliers -- stayed within government pay guidelines, unions say salaries are still too high.

A spokesman for health union GMB, whose membership includes health profesionals, said: "The average salary for chief executives nationwide is now an incredible £105,000. In the meantime workers in the NHS are struggling to survive on low pay.

"The money should be spent on improving patient care and pay levels for those who do the work in the NHS.

"It should not be squandered on financing the champagne and caviar lifestyles of NHS fat cats.

"This is taxpayers' money and it should be spent improving their health care."

A spokesman for the hospitals trust said: "These pay increases were agreed centrally and we therefore do not wish to comment."

Nationally, the highest paid chief executive of the trusts which made their accounts available was Dr Jonathan Michael of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust in London who earned £171,000. One in three earned at least £100,000.

The chief executive of Warwickshire Ambulance Service was at the bottom of the pay league with £42,500.

WHO GOT WHAT

John Brunt, chief executive: £100,000-£105,000

Beverley Andrew, director of operations: £75,000-£80,000

Eddie McGurk, director of human resources: £65,000-£70,000

Beverley Peacock, director of finance: £65,000-£70,000

Ann Shenk, director of service development: £65,000-£70,000

David Spurr, managing director: £65,000 - £70,000 (£15,000-20,000 salary + £50,55,OOO other remuneration)

Sue Reed, director of nursing: £55,000-£60,000

Ron Hopkins, medical director: £40,000-£50,000 (£10,000-15,000 salary + £30,000-£35,000 other remuneration)

Peter Liptrott, chairman: £15,000-£20,000