SENIOR academics will debate the future of North-East devolution.

Leading academics from Newcastle and Durham universities along with council representatives from around the region, including Cllr Bill Dixon of Darlington and Cllr Patrick Conway of Durham, will attend today's conference at the Discovery Museum, in Newcastle.

The event was organised by the British Academy as part of a two-year Governing England project.

Among the items for discussion are the potential size of a regional devolution deal, local demand for an elected mayor and the prospects of economic growth created by new devolved powers from Whitehall.