THE Prime Minister is expected to publicly endorse the case for a directly-elected assembly for the North-East with a high-profile campaign in the region early next month.

Although Number 10 declined to confirm the details, it is believed Mr Blair will be joined by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Chancellor Gordon Brown at a launch expected to take place in Durham City.

Until now, the Prime Minister was widely rumoured to be lukewarm in his support for the proposed North-East assembly, and the prospect of such public backing has been warmly welcomed by supporters of the assembly in the region.

Yesterday, a Number 10 spokesman declined to confirm the Prime Minister's schedule, on security grounds, but said: "The regional assembly is Government policy and, of course, he will be fully involved in the campaign."

News that the Government plans its own campaign in favour of an assembly was welcomed by senior members of the Yes4the NorthEast campaign, the independent body that is expected to be declared the official Yes campaign next month.

Professor John Tomaney, chairman of the Yes4the-NorthEast campaign, said: "This nails the myth put out by the No campaign that there is no support for devolution from the top levels of Government.

"It is now clear that the Yes argument is winning support from a wide range of people, including those right at the heart of the Government."

Prof Tomaney said that while the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour Party were expected to run their own campaigns for an elected regional assembly, Yes4theNorthEast would remain strictly independent.

He said: "We have said all along that that we are not a party political organisation, and that this referendum is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of the North-East to break the traditional mould of politics and vote for something completely new and fresh, that will be able to improve people's lives across the region."

Meanwhile, the location the Government has chosen for its campaign launch is a growing sign of the importance of Durham City to the referendum debate, with widespread calls for any assembly to be based in the city.

However, during a visit to Gateshead earlier this week, Mr Prescott refused to be drawn on the issue:

He said: "Whether there will be an assembly is something for the people of the North-East to decide in the referendum and whether any assembly should be in Durham is up to the people who are elected."

However, Mr Blair's intervention did not impress those opposed to the proposed assembly.

Leading No campaigner John Elliott said: "Perhaps Mr Blair can tell the people of the North-East how a regional assembly is going to address the issues that really matter, such as education, health, job creation and policing.

"The fact he has decided to publicly back the assembly will mean nothing unless real action is taken."