Boss's £18m gift to himself

THE boss of West Lothian building firm has handed himself an £18 million pay-out before taking a year off from business.

John Ward, head of Bathgate's Front Line Construction, received the huge sum after pre-tax profits were doubled to £5m in the year to the end of January 2006.

It is understood Mr Ward, 58, who owns 99 per cent of Front Line's shares, is "semi-retired" and is to take a year out before returning next April to serve another six months before leaving altogether.

Business at the company, which employs almost 200 people, will continue as normal under managing director Peter Doherty.