A TRANSPORT partnership between five North-East councils is the best urban scheme of its kind in England, according to a study.

The Tyne and Wear authorities of Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, and North and South Tyneside, have been rated the best metropolitan authority in the country for their local transport network.

Their partnership, which includes public transport operator Nexus, scored 84 per cent in the Department for Transport's annual progress report.

The rating is in the "above average" category. Last year, the partnership improved from "below average" to "average", and received a boost to funding of £672,000.

Major schemes that have benefited from Department of Transport funding in the current five-year plan have included the improvement of the Four Lane Ends Metro Interchange and multi-storey car park, the extension of the Metro system to Sunderland, the dualling of Scotswood Road, and the newly-developed Gateshead Interchange.

Future spending plans include major highway schemes, such as Sunderland Central Route and Sunderland Southern Radial Route, plus continued investment for Quayside Transit, in Newcastle and Gateshead, as well as cycling, public transport and road safety schemes across the region.