A NORTH-EAST city best known for its football, brown ale and nights on the tiles has been named the country's most artistic centre.

The accolade for Newcastle/ Gateshead comes in research published yesterday, which surveyed 14 cities - and which placed London only ninth with Birmingham at the bottom.

The survey, for TV channel Artsworld, was conducted by Dr Geoff Ellis of research firm Jaywing, and looked at accessibility of the arts and the involvement of each city's population.

It rated them according to six categories:

l attendance at art galleries, museums, concerts and events;

l the level of funding from grants and local authorities;

l arts sources such as libraries, bookshops, and shops selling art materials and instruments;

l the number of music, dance and drama schools or teachers;

l facilities such as museums, galleries and theatres;

l the number of arts students.

Newcastle had the most arts students and the second highest number of theatres per person, behind Edinburgh.

It also boasts attractions such as the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts, in Gateshead.

Last night, Baltic director Peter Doroshenko said: "Culture and the arts have played a central role in transforming the image of the North-East and particularly Newcastle/ Gateshead. It is an incredibly exciting time to be living and working in a region which has so many opportunities to experience world-class art."

Nottingham was second in the survey, followed by Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Bristol, Manchester, Plymouth, London and Liverpool came next.

The research was commissioned to coincide with Artsworld's New Year's Eve broadcast of Simon Rattle's Berlin Gala Concert.

Newcastle/Gateshead Initiative creative director Stella Hall said: "This is fantastic news. Museums, galleries and other cultural attractions in Newcastle/ Gateshead are committed to ensuring they engage with their audiences. This survey shows that dedication is really paying off.

"We have some of the best cultural attractions in the UK here and it is great they are being enjoyed so much by people across the regions as well as other visitors."

A spokesman for regional development agency One NorthEast said: "This survey is further recognition of the success of the bold arts and cultural agenda the North-East has pursued over the past few years."