THE Government must use the Autumn Statement to guarantee the £653m of European Union funding promised to the region before the Brexit vote, an MP has demanded.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson said it was vital communities were not left worse off and is calling on the Chancellor to honour the Vote Leave campaign pledge to guarantee all EU funding promised until 2020.

According to research by Open Britain, the North-East was due to receive a total of £653m from the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, European Agricultural Fund and European Maritime and fisheries fund between 2017 and 2020.

This money goes on supporting businesses, social enterprises and rural and deprived communities.

The Government has given the impression it would fulfil the promises made during the Vote Leave campaign.

However, the Chancellor has only pledged to match funding for projects that “meet UK priorities and value for money criteria” – leading to fears that the region could lose out on large amounts of the funding it has been promised.

Mr Wilson, of the Open Britain Campaign, said: “EU funding is so important for the North-East, supporting our businesses and public services. Now it’s time for the Government to keep its promise and guarantee that this money will be matched until 2020.

“At the Autumn Statement on Wednesday, I am calling on the Chancellor to stand up for the North-East and protect jobs and services in our communities.

“There is a mandate for Brexit, but not a Brexit that would leave our communities worse off.”

His plea comes as fellow Northern politicians urge Phillip Hammond to prioritise "northern powerhouse rail" over London's Crossrail 2 in the statement.

The Labour MPs, from Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Liverpool, said northern motorways are reaching "saturation point," while train capacity is "at the limit.”

In a joint letter to Mr Hammond they warned that investors could lose confidence in the North, and the "Northern Powerhouse" initiative without improvements to the transport network.

Greater Manchester Mayoral candidate Andy Burnham said: "Decades of unfair allocations from the transport budget have left the North with an inadequate rail system and motorways that are at saturation point.

"If people in London and the South-East had to put up with the North's transport system, there would be protests in the streets. It is our turn to come to the front of the queue for transport investment and that must start this week."