PEOPLE in the North-East are the most active investors in the UK, trading shares more often than those in the traditional stockbroker belt, research showed last night.

Investors in the North-East - and Northern Ireland - have carried out an average of seven deals so far this year, compared with an average of five deals across the UK as a whole, said Barclays Stockbrokers.

But those in the Home Counties, generally considered to be the traditional stockbroker belt, have bought or sold shares an average of four times this year, making them the least active investors. Rupert Dickinson, director of execution-only broking at Barclays Stockbrokers, said: ''With the UK stock market recently at a four-year high, this research provides a fascinating insight into the trading habits of investors across the country."