BOOMING Newcastle was told yesterday it must do more to help low levels of investment and job creation in the North-East.

A Government report hailed the economic success of Newcastle and the other seven so-called core cities in England.

But the report said the big cities must recognise they were thriving on "assets they cannot themselves provide", which came from their surrounding areas.

Those assets included a larger workforce and skills base, space for infrastructure such as airports and shopping centres and "leisure and countryside opportunities".

The report concluded: "Major cities provide clear advantages to other settlements in their regions. But the relationships work both ways."

The verdict was seized on by Urban Policy Minister Keith Hill, who said it was vital to exploit the economic strength of the core cities to create more prosperous regions.

He said: "This report shows that our city regions have enormous potential to help create more prosperous regions and sustainable communities."

The report, called Our Cities are Back, goes to the heart of the argument about whether Newcastle's success boosts the North-East or drains jobs and investment from it.

It demands action plans to achieve transport improvements, greater innovation, more public investment and, crucially, closer collaboration to build "city-region relationships".