SOME think the best place for George "Dubya" Bush would be at the bottom of a mine. Others would like to take him to their favourite watering hole.

But all the suggestions put forward would certainly give the 45th president of the US an insight into the culture and traditions of the North-East and its inhabitants.

Big Brother contestant Jonny Regan, a former firefighter from Trimdon Village, County Durham, where President Bush and his wife, Laura, are rumoured to be staying on Thursday when he visits the constituency of Prime Minister Tony Blair, said he would introduce him to the local culinary delights.

First stop would be at a chip shop for fish, chips and mushy peas, followed by a pint of lager in Trimdon Workingmen's Club.

He said: "Then we would go and have a go at the Bucking Bronco game in one of the pubs on Newcastle's Quayside.

"I would see how long he can hold on while drinking a couple of double Aftershocks."

Terry Deary, author of the children's Horrible Histories books, was more scathing about the state visit.

He said: "I think there are still some working mines left in the region.

"If I was to take Bush out for the day, I would take him to the bottom of one and leave him there."

Lord MacKenzie of Framwellgate said: "I would take him to the historic castle and the historic cathedral in Durham, because Americans always like to see these things.

"I would probably take him to my village, Shincliffe Village, and I would take him to the pub and he would have a good debate with the locals about the rights and wrongs of the war in Iraq.

"I would offer him a non-alcoholic drink because I think a drunken president would be worse than a sober president."

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon was more business-like about what he would show the president.

He said: "Forty years ago, Las Vegas was a desert ripe for development.

"I would like to show President Bush areas of Stockton and Middlesbrough like Middlehaven, which offer similar potential to ambitious companies from all over the world."

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond who was formerly H'Angus the Monkey, Hartlepool United's mascot, said he would show President Bush around some of the attractions in the town's marina, which has helped to transform the area.

He said: "I would also invite him to join me on the terraces at Victoria Park and then I would finish off by inviting him to take one of his ghost ships back to America."