BOLTON Council is set for a £650,000 windfall from its shares in Manchester Airport.

Bolton is one of the ten local authority shareholders in the airport.

A dividend will be paid out tomorrow amounting to £13 million and forms the second of two pay outs this financial year ... and this totals more than £17 million. The nine districts of Greater Manchester who each own a five pc share will receive £650,000 and Manchester City Council which holds 55 pc will receive £7.15 million. Mr Brian Harrison, chairman of Manchester Airport, said: "Since 1986, when Manchester Airport PLC was formed, over £150 million in dividends have been received by the airport's ten local authority shareholders.

"This provides extra income for the councils which clearly benefits the people of Greater Manchester."

Geoff Muirhead, chiefs executive, added: "This is an excellent return for our shareholders reflecting what will be record profits. All this has been achieved while airline operators at Manchester have seen their charges reduced for the eighth consecutive year."

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