Twenty-eight North West millionaires feature in the latest Asian Rich list launched recently and it includes Bolton's famous curry magnates who are locked in a court room battle over money.

Kirit and Meena Pathak are now worth £30 million - a fortune that has been built up from the days when Mrs Pathak set up in business making curry sauces at home.

The couple own Patak's, a leading range of Indian foods manufactured at their plant in Leigh.

The Pathak family are in 61st place in the Sunrise Radio Asian Rich List 2004, the official index of the 300 wealthiest Asians in Britain.

Yet the pair remain locked in a court battle with Mr Pathak's two sisters, who have launched High Court proceedings to try and recover the share of the empire to which they believe they are entitled. The hearing is due to resume after Easter.

Of the twenty-eight millionaires in the rich list 20 either hail from or are based in the city of Manchester.

Anwar Patel and family, who run Bolton firm Gorgemead Ltd, are valued at £33 million. Shailendra Raja and family, from Horwich-based Scan Computers International, are valued at £13 million.

And Chimanlal and Utamkumar Patel, of Sykes Chemists, are valued at £4 million. Anwar Patel, who is a pharmacist by profession, and his brother Yakub, an accountant, set up their first shop in Rochdale 23 years ago and subsequently took over Cohens in Market Street, Little Lever, from where they built their empire.

Tahir Mohsan, of Burnley-based Time Computers, is valued at £70 million and still one of the youngest millionaires at just 32.

The elusive lottery winner Mohidin Muktar, who originated from Blackburn, has not been seen or heard of since his major £20 million win.

The list puts the combined wealth of Britain's rich Asians at an astounding £14.3 billion - an increase of £6 billion since last year.

NORTH WEST TOP TEN

() denotes UK standing

(17) I Iqbal Ahmed & Family (Manchester).

(21) Ranjana and Sanjay Kumar (Rajan Group Fashion) Manchester

(22) A Patel & Family (Faisaltex) Preston

(25) Tahir Mohsan & Family (Time Computers Computers) Blackburn.

(44) S Sandy Chadha & Family (Supreme Imports Electronics) Manchester

(48) Shammi Ahmed (Pinwise / Legendary Joe Bloggs Fashion) Manchester

(59) Anwar Patel & Family (Gorgemead Ltd Pharmaceuticals) Bolton

(61) Kirit & Meena Pathak (Patak Spices Food) Wigan

(96) Mukhtar Mohidin (Lottery winner) Blackburn

(77) Lak & Kamal Basran (The Authentic Food Company) Stockport