MILLIONAIRE Nigel Jackson has left the Bolton accountancy firm that he founded.

His departure from Jacksons was, according to managing partner Peter Donnelly, "due to differences of opinion about the future of the business".

The business is now being given a new title, with the name Jacksons being dropped in favour of 'Unity'.

Mr Jackson said he would make a statement after talking to his lawyers.

A statement from the firm said: "Following the departure of Nigel Jackson from Jacksons Chartered Accountants and Jacksons Insolvency Practitioners on January 20, 2003, the businesses have been restructured and rebranded as Unity.

"All the remaining partners other than Mr Jackson, together with the staff and clients, have transferred to the Unity businesses, which will continue to operate from their Clive house, Bolton, offices."

Mr Jackson, aged 47, who lives in Warrington, has worked up to 60 hours a week for most of his career.

He started as a sole practitioner in Market Street, Westhoughton, in 1985.

Twelve months ago, Jacksons was Britain's 40th largest accountancy firm with a turnover of £8.1 million.

It is the 10th largest accountancy firm in the North-west with about 100 employees in Bolton and a further 65 at offices in Nelson, Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Birmingham, Wakefield, York and Harrogate.

Atherton-born Mr Jackson, who went to St Andrews Primary School, Over Hulton, and Bolton School, took the firm from Westhoughton to Breightmet Street, Bolton, after a couple of years in business.

Rapid expansion led to the establishment of additonal North-west offices.

In 1997, a head office was established in Salford Quays at premises which also house Swift Fire & Security, a separate business which Mr Jackson, the executive chairman, runs with two co-founders.

When it was decided to consolidate Jacksons in the centre of Bolton, the partners chose the former Bolton and Bury Chamber offices in Clive Street.

There are now 14 Unity partners, including Ian Millington and Mark Conboy.