POLITICAL and sporting heavyweights were last night making the case for a North-East assembly.

Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson, Berwick MP Alan Beith, and Sir John Hall, president of Newcastle United, were lined up to speak at the London launch of the so-called Yes Campaign.

North-East voters are expected to be given the chance in October to vote on whether they want an elected assembly, which will have powers to raise money through council tax and borrowing.

Debate has raged over the assembly, which critics said would be a waste of money and nothing more than a political talking shop.

Last night, Sir John, the man behind the Gateshead MetroCentre, said: "The vote in October is a culmination of a 30-year campaign to bring power and decision-making to the region.

"It is great we have finally got the opportunity to vote and control our own destiny and build the region we want to see for our children and grandchildren."

Mr Mandelson said: "Devolving government to the English regions is not an optional add-on to other policies.

"It is a prior condition for achieving economic change and success in Britain."

North-East Tory MEP Martin Callanan, who has been critical of the cost of the campaign for an elected assembly, said: "It does not matter how much glitz they want to put on in London, because the fact of the matter is that, ultimately, it will be the people of the North-East that they have to convince.

"At the moment, they are failing badly in that."