IT may just be the most expensive car parking space in Britain - and it's yours for £13,000.

The location in question is Newcastle's swanky Citygate development in the heart of the city centre.

Buyers have been snapping up apartments at the seven- floor building which overlooks Newcastle United's St James' Park football ground.

Secure car parking on the site in St James' Boulevard comes as an "optional extra" and is added to the cost of the cheaper apartments.

Prices for a one-bedroom flat start at £92,000 and go up to £195,000. More than 50 of the 57 apartments on offer have already been sold.

Those unimpressed by the cost of parking in Newcastle could could look elsewhere in the North-East.

With £13,000 to spend, they could easily afford an end terraced two-bedroom house in Normanby Road, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, and have about £1,500 to spare.

Gas central heating is included and parking is of course free - outside in the street with everyone else.

Michael Poole is secretary of the North-East branch of the National Association of Estate Agents, and runs a string of estate agents on Teesside.

He said: "Many people will think £13,000 for a car parking space is a lot of money.

"But if you can afford it it's probably worth paying. It would probably cost an absolute fortune to park your car in Newcastle city centre every day if that's where you work, so why not?"

Keeley Marshall, a sales negotiator with developer Bellway, said the Citygate development had attracted a mixture of clients from professional people and investors to parents buying for children.

A spokeswoman for the company said the price of parking was high because land was at such a premium in the city centre.

She added: "The parking is linked to a CCTV system and is entirely secure.

"We believe the accommodation is absolutely ideal for people who want an apartment in the city centre.

"It is within walking distance of the railway station, shops and restaurants and close to the main north and south road routes."