THE North-East Says No campaign group yesterday unveiled a list of supporters who have been drafted into its 50-strong council.

The campaign, which already counts the Conservative Party and the UK Independence Party among its backers, is supported by several prominent figures from the North-East business community, including Sir Tom Cowie, Duncan Davidson, the chairman of Persimmon, Frank Nicholson, the former chairman of Vaux Breweries and Colin Gregg, the chairman of Greggs Bakers.

Among the high profile names who have now come out in support of the campaign are: Peter Allan of Ward Hadaway; Raymond Louis Allison, of Eversheds; John Graeme Anderson, the deputy chairman of NEI; Sir Brian Askew, former chairman of the Yorkshire Health Authority; Martin Ballinger, chief executive of bus company Go-Ahead; Professor Crombie, former Dean of Medicine at Newcastle University; Sarah Davidson, Northumberland County Councillor; Howard Dawe, managing director of Bellway; Charles Enderby, managing director, of Hexham Steeplechase Co; Simon Gray, farmer; Viscount Ridley, former chairman of Northumberland County Council; Frank Sharatt, chief executive of Kerr McGee; and Lord Walton, of Detchant, former Dean of Medicine at Newcastle University.