THE North-East will be put on the map by this weekend's Labour spring conference, the party chairman promised yesterday.

Ian McCartney said the conference, to be held on Tyneside, will be an opportunity to showcase how the region is regenerating itself.

He said international headlines would be guaranteed because there would be some "big policy commitments" from people as senior as Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Mr McCartney, speaking ahead of the three-day conference, which will be held at The Sage music centre, Gateshead, from Friday, said: "It is a wonderful opportunity to show off Gateshead Newcastle's tremendous regeneration.

"Local people, the private and public sectors have got together with the Government to show what they can do, and it is now one of the most exciting places in Europe to do business.

"It is a chance to say to all organisations considering holding a conference that this is a fantastic venue with the best facilities."

There has been criticism of the security bill for the event, which will be nearly £1m and largely paid for by local taxpayers.

Mr McCartney said: "It is now 20 years since the IRA bombed the Tory Government in Brighton and, since then, we have had to step up security in this country. There are those who do try to target political events and those whose campaigning is not legitimate, and so, to protect democracy, we have to provide the appropriate level of security.

"Another part of the cost has been investment in things like closed circuit television and communications equipment, which will be a lasting benefit to the area."

Mr McCartney promised that the three-day conference will break the mould. He said: "We will take the conference out of the hall and into the wider community for a more interactive debate."