A breathtaking blueprint to bring the European Capital of Culture to Newcastle and Gateshead in 2008 was unveiled yesterday.

The bid, which will be presented to the Government today, contains plans for an investment of over £3bn in transport, leisure, housing and commercial development - including some £350m for a permanent cultural infrastructure.

If successful, the bid would bring £700m in extra income to the region - and could create 17,000 jobs.

Beyond Imagination. A Blueprint for Change, also details over 1,000 projects that will form part of a £100m events programme spanning five years from 2003 and culminating across the North-East in a non-stop, year-long spectacle in 2008.

Unveiling the bid in Newcastle's Live Theatre yesterday Newcastle Gateshead Initiative chairman sir Ian Wrigglesworth said: "We will be the best for culture, the best for regeneration, the best for Britain and Europe.

"We will deliver the best legacy from the biggest European Capital of Culture bid ever made."

He added: "Although focused on the Newcastle Gateshead, it will radiate out to the whole region.

"Hundreds of thousands of people from the under fives to the 95s, from people without work to managing directors will enjoy a lifetime experience that will have an impact upon the lives of the people of this region forever."

Three years in the making, the bid will be delivered to London by six young people from the region today.

Some projects already under development and completed include the Baltic centre for contemporary art, Music Centre Gateshead, Grainger Town, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Discovery Museum, Blue Carpet and International Centre for Life.

Major new attractions expected to be completed by 2008 will include a Museum of the Landscape, which will see the Hancock Museum completely redeveloped as a gateway to the region's landscape and a Romans Alive Visitor Centre, created along the model of York's Yorvik Museum.

There are also plans to form a Great North Running Foundation and the Tyneside Cinema will be relaunched as a digital movie making centre.

Among the cultural assets coming into being before 2008 are a centre for children's books, a much-needed 50m international swimming pool, redevelopment of Gateshead Stadium to world-class standards and Spark _ a centre for under-fives in Darlington.

Festivals and events will include a European Challenge Games _ a series of road running, golf and athletics spearheaded by long-distance runner Brendan Foster and Eurofolkus _ a celebration of music from across the globe.

The Tyne River will be teaming with river buses, boat races, water pageants, theatre and floating restaurants.