SOME of the North-East's most deprived areas are to benefit from a £25m cash boost announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Millions of pounds worth of funding will help regenerate former coalfield areas across the country left devastated by pit closures.

A total of £10m is be allocated through the Coalfields Enterprise Fund, which finances new and existing small or medium-sized businesses in such areas.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will receive £15m to bolster the contribution it already makes to the social regeneration of pit communities.

Thirteen areas in the North-East will be among those to receive cash from the two funding pots.

They are Alnwick, Blyth Valley, Castle Morpeth, Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Durham, Easington, North Tyneside, Sedgefield, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Wansbeck and Wear Valley.

John Prescott said: "Everyone has a right to employment and a good quality of life - no matter who they are or where they live."

A recent report by a Government select committee on coalfield communities said a new fund was needed to help start-up businesses with the initial capital they need.

Easington MP John Cummings said: "Money is desperately needed to tackle a number of problems. Overall quality of life for some people is very poor, we have very low levels of academic attainment and desperately high levels of chronic illness because of a life in the pits."

The Coalfield Enterprise Fund will typically invest on a 50-50 basis funds between £40,000 and £500,000.

For more information log on to www.enterprise-ventures.co.uk