A GROUP campaigning for more women to be represented in regional politics opened its new headquarters yesterday.

The North-East Constitutional Convention Women's Forum launched its offices at Hawthorne House, Forth Banks, in Newcastle, with the help of Joyce Quin, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, a keen supporter.

The women's forum is pushing more women towards being involved in political and public life in the region, and is campaigning for a 50/50 representation of women and men if a North-East regional assembly gets the go-ahead.

At the moment, of the North-East's 30 MPs, only four are women and, at best, one third of local councillors are female.