IT WAS described as the ultimate in Geordie chic. And yesterday British designer Scott Henshall did not disappoint as he unveiled his first Newcastle-Gateshead collection during London Fashion Week.

Hartlepool-based Scott, a former design student at Northumbria University, took his native North-East as inspiration for his spring/summer 2005 collection.

There was not a flat cap in sight as models such as Sophie Anderton and Elize DuToit, better known as Izzy, from the Channel 4 series Hollyoaks, showed Northern style in gold bomber jackets with gold matching visors, before moving into stylish pink and mauve evening wear.

One of the packed show's highlights was a £2m diamond encrusted bikini - not unexpected from the man who designed the £5m diamond encrusted dress for singer Samantha Mumba at the recent Spider-Man 2 premiere.

The collection was supported by culture10, a programme of events aimed at promoting the North-East as a world-class visitor attraction, which will run until the end of the decade.

Mr Henshall said: "All of the designs carried my distinctive style, but I combined this with my interpretations of life in the North-East and added a little bit of Geordie chic.

"Without the support of culture10, One NorthEast, and Newcastle and Gateshead Councils, this project would have never gone ahead. I think more of our cities should get behind local designers and create more opportunities for fashion and design industries to develop outside of the capital."

The collection was unveiled at the old Saatchi Gallery, in London, before it is brought to the North-East on October 8 to be shown at Leazes Park, in Newcastle.