DURHAM University has been named as the best in the North-East.

It was ranked fifth in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, falling one place from 2017.

Newcastle University, the only one in the North-East to be given a gold award in the new Teaching Excellence Framework, was ranked 26th nationally, falling four places, but came out top in the region for student experience.

Elsewhere in the region, Sunderland and Teesside both rose in this year's table and were judged among the most inclusive universities, with the highest proportion of students from low participation areas.

Teesside moved up nine places to reach the top 100 while Sunderland was ranked 96th, four places higher than last year.

Meanwhile Northumbria dropped one place to 66 in this year’s league table.

Durham’s vice chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said: “It’s pleasing to see that we continue to be very highly ranked in this league table, which uses a range of indicators of success. To be ranked in the top five universities in the UK reflects the sustained commitment we have to delivering excellence across education, research and the wider student experience.”

The guide, published on September 24, says: "One of the oldest universities in the UK, Durham has embarked on perhaps the most radical makeover in its history as it sets out to grow by more than 40 per cent over the next 10 years.

"With six applications for every place and the seventh-highest entry standards in the UK, the university has plenty of scope to take more students, and the university is promising to maintain staffing levels as it grows."