PARTS of the North-East should be allowed to join an independent Scotland, a campaigner has claimed.

Andrew Gray, a member of the Green Party, believes the borders of Scotland should be redrawn to include areas of Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside - if the yes campaign is successful at next week's referendum.

So far, 249 people have signed Mr Gray's e-petition to request a new North-East referendum should Scotland vote for independence.

Mr Gray said: "Many people in the North-East feel distant from our government in Westminster, both economically and politically.

"The Scottish Parliament has proved that different ways of running public services are possible, including an NHS without the internal market, higher education without tuition fees, and (if there's a Yes vote in the Independence Referendum) defence without the threat of Trident."

He added: "We therefore call on the UK Government to grant a referendum to all who live north of Hadrian's Wall, or in Newcastle and North Tyneside council areas.

"We would choose whether to remain in England or to join Scotland. We call on the Government to arrange and fund this referendum, and to be bound by the result."

Mr Gray said if people chose to join Scotland, the new border would follow the line of Hadrian's Wall west of Newcastle, where it would go south to the River Tyne, then east to the coast.