REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast has exceeded its targets in the last financial year, a survey has revealed.

The findings, based on key performance indicators which were unveiled in Parliament yesterday, show the agency has bettered its targets for the fourth consecutive year.

The survey marks a year since regional development agencies (RDAs) throughout the UK were given increased spending power for local projects.

And in a Mori poll carried out for the Department for Trade and Industry, it was revealed that One NorthEast received higher-than-average scores among those who thought its work to be good or very good within the fields of regeneration and business development.

There was also said to be a high level of awareness among people about the agency's work.

Interviews were carried out with 2,535 public, private, voluntary and charity sector organisations nationally, 270 of which were in the region.

A spokesman said last night that key performance indicators showed One NorthEast had either helped create or guarantee the future of more than 7,000 jobs through grants and intervention in the past year.

But he said figures were not immediately available to show how many jobs had been created or safeguarded.

Figures showed the agency also:

* Helped create and attract 717 businesses in the region, against a target of 406

* Reclaimed 128 acres of brownfield site for re-use, against a target of 116

* Created 24,248 learning opportunities, against a target of 18,014.

One NorthEast chief executive Alan Clarke said: "We are delighted with the findings of the stakeholder survey and the key performance figures for the last financial year.

"Such statistics are testament to the dedication and hard work of agency staff.

"However, there is still much work to be done to help the region achieve its goals in the regional economic strategy."

Dozens of projects across the North-East are set to reap the benefits from a share of a £636m fund held by One NorthEast, which will help local people and businesses.