Women bosses at Swindon Council are shattering the glass ceiling, making up more than half the authority's top earners.

Women comprise 57 per cent of the top five per cent of earners at the council.

The authority is one of just eight in England where half or more of the top earners are women.

Simon Birch, chief executive at Swindon council, said: "We are delighted that 57 per cent of the top five per cent of earners in this council are women.

"This proves that our equal opportunities policy is successful and we take pride in having the second highest score among 149 councils across the country."

The other authorities where women make up half or more top earners are Merton, Derby, Middles-brough, Essex, Lewisham, Haringey and Luton.

In a further 56 councils out of 149 in England, 40 per cent or more of the top five per cent of earners are women.

At the other end of the spectrum, in the City of London only 12 per cent of the top earners are women.

The figures were put together by the GMB union, based on data supplied by local councils to the Audit Commission for 2002/3.

Justin Bowden, GMB senior organiser for the managerial and professional officers, said: "When the trade union movement pressed local councils to follow equal opportunity recruitment policies, the object was to ensure that the male domination of the top post in council was brought to an end.

"These figures demonstrate that if employers put their mind to it that women can get a fair deal and break through the glass ceiling.

"Action needs to be taken urgently in the councils on this list that have yet to address the very real problem of lack of equal pay and lack of equal opportunities.

"The private sector could do well to look at how local councils are trying to break through the glass ceiling."

UK's top five richest ladies

HARRY Potter has so far earned £435m for JK Rowling, pictured above, making her the richest woman in Britain.

But she remembers only too well her time as a young mother, bringing a child up alone in virtual poverty, and supports young parents' and children's charities.

Next on the list of Britain's richest women is the Queen with £250m.

Third place goes to Scottish-born Dame Celia Lipton Farris with £185m. She inherited much of her wealth from her late industrialist husband.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is said to be worth £160m, putting her in fourth place, although her fortune is indivisible from that of husband Michael Douglas.

Jayne Ellis, in fifth place with £150m, inherited her wealth as widow of the founder of the JCB empire.

Emma-Kate Lidbury