THE boss of Blackburn-based Scapa Group saw his total pay package fall by more than £17,000 last year, according to the firm's annual accounts.

Chief executive David Dunn's package of salary, bonuses and benefits dropped to £286,975 in the last financial year from £304,203. Although his basic salary increased by just over £11,000, his performance-related bonus was £15,362, compared with £45,179 the previous year.

Chairman Harry Tuley's salary remained unchanged at £68,004.

The firm recently announced that its profits had fallen because of the strong pound and the financial crisis in the Far East.

And earlier this year 75 job cuts were announced at the firm's Scapa-Scandia paper machine textiles factory, at Cartmell Road, Blackburn.

A reorganisation of its North American and European paper machine clothing division - of which Scapa-Scandia is a part - forced the firm to close certain sites and cut jobs at an estimated cost of about £28 million.

Scapa Group, based on Preston New Road, employs hundreds throughout East Lancashire at Scapa-Scandia, Scapa Forming, in Stubbins, and Scapa Filtration, Haslingden.

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