UK share dividends hit a record £68.7 billion in 2011, according to research out today.

Capita Registrars, which analysed statistics from Exchange Data International based on the FTSE-100 and FTSE-250, said the total gross figure showed a 19.4% rise on the £56.8bn reported in 2010 and the first year-on-year increase since the banking crisis in 2008.

There was growth across most sectors although there were double-digit declines in electricity, alternative energy, real estate and industrial transport.

Oil and gas producers were the biggest payers giving out £10.922bn (up 18%), followed by banks at £6.579bn (12%) and pharmaceuticals at £6.559bn (7%).

The figures were skewed by the fact BP paid out £1.8bn more in 2011 as it restored dividends following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster and special dividends increased fourfold to £2.9bn.

However, excluding those factors, underlying dividend growth in 2011 was still 12.8%.

Scottish firms were among those increasing their payouts with examples including Weir Group rising from £52 million to £66m and Aggreko up from £45m to £60m.

Of the 438 businesses paying a dividend last year 373 increased, started or reinstated the payment compared to 90 which cut or cancelled them.

Those on the up outnumbered those showing a fall by four to one, better than the three to one reported in 2010.

Bryan Johnston, from Brewin Dolphin, said: "It has been a pretty difficult period for dividends as a lot of investors lost out during the banking crisis then were hit again when BP suspended its dividend.

"But a lot of companies are actually trading pretty well and are keen to reward their shareholders.

"The outlook suggests life is difficult but not terminal. Certain sectors, such as retail are under pressure but the manufacturing sector is showing signs of recovery and the leisure industry is reporting good figures."

At £6.7bn, Shell was the top payer for the second year.

The special dividend figure was boosted by £1.6bn from Inter-national Power and £600m from Antofagasta.

In total 19 companies made the extra payments compared to 13 in 2010 and nine in 2009.

Capita Registrars is predict- ing a further 11% increase in dividends to £75bn next year.

Mr Johnston also believes dividends will continue to rise in 2012 and added: "I am always a little uneasy over special dividends as it suggests the company can find no other way of distributing the cash satisfactorily either through investment or acquisition.

"Ideally I would prefer for companies to reinvest that capital back into the businesses so the special dividends suggest the caution which is out there.

"However, as long as earnings continue to rise then I think dividends will keep going up.

Vodafone is expected to supplant Shell as the top payer in 2012 mainly due to the £2bn it is giving out next month from income received through its stake in Verizon Wireless.

Charles Cryer, Capita Registrars chief executive, believes dividend payments will increase further.

He said: "Record dividends are providing a real bright spot for investors against a very gloomy backdrop of crisis in the eurozone and a stalling economic recovery in the UK. We are optimistic dividends will make further progress in 2012, unless the eurozone sinks deeper towards collapse and leads companies to retrench at home.

"Special dividends have been the icing on the cake for 2011, and look likely to sweeten investors' returns again in the coming year."