NORTHERN Electric is to put its headquarters building up for sale.

Carliol House, in Market Street, Newcastle, has been the headquarters of the electricity company since 1927, when it moved in its former guise as the North East Supply Company.

It retained that name until 1948, when it became the North-East Electricity Board.

The decision to sell Carliol House follows the separation of Northern Electric's distribution and supply businesses.

They will now be housed in completely separate buildings.

A spokesman for Northern Electric said: "Northern Electric has recently announced the separation of its distribution and supply businesses.

"As a result of this separation the two business must operate from spearate headquarters.

"The distribution business has already moved to a new base at Penshaw, near Sunderland, while a new base for the supply business is still being sought."

He added: "Despite the separation of the businesses, we remain committed to the North-East.

"We are currently reviewing a number of alternate sites in the Newcastle area to be the new home of the supply business."