WITH less than 100 days to go before the World Cup opens in Germany, Geordie gingerbread men are heading to Berlin.

Bakers Greggs have produced a limited edition of the footballing gingerbread men - complete with black and white stripes - to promote the region at an international event in the German capital.

The specially-created biscuits will be making the journey with representatives from the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative (NGI) to help spread the word about the region and its passion for food and football.

Graham Randell, managing director of Greggs North-East said: "When NGI approached us with the idea to create a product which could take flavours from the North- East across to the Continent we thought it was fantastic.

"This event is a great opportunity, not only to showcase Newcastle-Gateshead as a destination, but also to demonstrate how culture and local business can come together to create a product which can be enjoyed the world over."

The event, organised by VisitBritain Germany, is being held on Thursday as part of ITB - Europe's largest travel and tourism exhibition - which will be attended by more than 125,000 visitors, including more than 40 German travel writers.

Andrew Dixon, chief executive of the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, said: "We felt it was fitting to take freshly-baked gingerbread men dressed in black and white football strips to the host nation for this year's World Cup, in the same year as we celebrate our passion for football with Alan Shearer's testimonial in May."