According to a survey by the Manpower Group, there is a growing pay gap between workers in different parts of the South West.

The latest Manpower Group Pay League found that people living in the eastern part of the region are among the best paid in the country, earning up to £12,500 more than those living in the western part.

Average full-time pay across the region rose 1.5% in 2014 to £31,000, more than double the rate of increase seen across the UK as a whole.

However, average pay still lags behind the UK average of £33,500. People living in Tewkesbury are the region’s best paid, earning £37,300 annually, with the region’s lowest-paid workers in Torbay earning an average of £24,800 per annum.

Dugald McIntosh, head of engineering at Experis (Manpower’s global professional services arm, pictured), said: “There are lots of opportunities for workers across the region, and competition for talent is helping to push up wages.

“We expect demand for candidates to rise even further, with new opportunities opening up in the region over the next few months — for example, the new power station at Hinkley Point.”