NORTHERN Electric chairman, Mr David Morris, yesterday confirmed the group's intention to pay shareholders a second special dividend next February.

The Newcastle based regional power company paid investors a special dividend of £1 a share last year as part of a package of benefits launched when the company successfully rebuffed a takeover move by Trafalgar House.

It pledged to make another 50p per share handout next February and Mr Morris yesterday confirmed the plan at the shareholders' annual meeting.