RESIDENTS of Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency have shown overwhelming support for a North-East Assembly, a poll has revealed.

While the Prime Minister remains lukewarm to the idea of directly-elected regional parliaments, more than 70 per cent of his constituents believe power should be devolved down to the North-East.

The poll, carried out in eight towns and cities across the region, showed 81 per cent were in favour of an elected assembly.

A further 83 per cent said there should be a referendum in the next two years in the region to decide the issue.

The results have been welcomed by regional campaigners who are pressing the next Government to include a commitment in the first Queen's Speech to allow referendums to be held.

Wendy Ross, secretary of the Campaign for a North East Regional Assembly (CNA), said: "The significance of this result is that it shows a consistent level of support across the region.

"Support is as strong in Stockton-on-Tees in the south of the region as in Hexham in the north."

The poll, conducted by the CNA in partnership with the Campaign for the English Regions, took in Newcastle, Sedgefield, Ferryhill, Newton Aycliffe, Sunderland, Consett and Trimdon Colliery.

The survey showed Conservative Hexham supported devolution the same as voters in Consett, which lies in the constituency of Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong.

Tony Blair has said he is keen on decentralisation, where the Government Office North-East and the regional development authorities get more cash.

But he told The Northern Echo in April: "It has to be decided here in the region wheth-er there is a regional assembly.

"People have to debate that and also look at the other changes that are necessary because I don't think you can leave the rest of local government unchanged if you have regional government on top."

Mr Blair's constituents were telephoned for their response to questions, such as whether a regional parliament should decided on generating jobs, major roads, and public transport.

They were also asked whether there should be an elected assembly in two years' time. The other surveys across the region were undertaken on foot.