A narrow vote in favour of an elected assembly in the North-East would be a "mandate for change" even with a low turn-out, deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said today.

Mr Prescott said 37.6 per cent of people had voted so far and turn-out was expected to be about 40 per cent in tomorrow's referendum.

He said that would be a "respectable" turn-out - better than for some council or European Parliament elections.

Asked if a narrow victory with a turn-out of under 50 per cent would be enough, Mr Prescott pointed to the 34 per cent turn-out for the London Assembly.

"This might be even 10 per cent more than that," he said.

"In some areas it is over 40 per cent. That is a very respectable vote. Some votes for councils, for euro elections, have been considerably less than that. It would be a mandate and we would certainly accept it as a mandate for change."

Speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme Mr Prescott also dismissed claims the assembly would mean more politicians and cost voters more money.

"In fact it is £12 million less to the people in the North-East," he said.

"They have said it will be more politicians - it's 500 politicians less."