PEOPLE in a North-East city need to be more romantic, according to a survey.

It says that one in four people living in Newcastle are treating their partners to a romantic gesture only once a year.

The recession has been blamed for killing passions, in the poll conducted by pizza company Dr Oetker Ristorante.

One in three Brits admitted to only treating their partner six times a year; 23 per cent admitted to never buying a special romantic treat for their love; and eight per cent only get romantic just once a year.

Italian ‘passione’ was brought to the city when Dr Oetker staff punted a Gondola down the Tyne and delivered red roses to Geordies, giving them a gift to take home to their loved ones to put romance back in their lives.

The most romantic city was Birmingham – with one in five Brummies treating their partners once a week – nine times the national average.

The average spend by Brummies on a gift was £46 – and the UK average was £64.