A POLL in Tony Blair's constituency has led to renewed calls for a referendum on Europe.

Vote 2004, which campaigns for a referendum on the European Constitution, last night released an ICM poll of the Prime Minister's constituents in Sedgefield, County Durham.

One of the key findings was that 58 per cent of people said that if Mr Blair does not call a referendum, it is because he thinks he would lose.

A total of 87 per cent are in favour of a referendum on the European Constitution, with 11 per cent against.

Among those who vote for Mr Blair, the figure is almost exactly the same, with 10 per cent against.

Mr Blair's voters are not against a constitution in principle - 54 per cent support the idea of a constitution to clarify what the EU does.

But a majority of Sedgefield voters are against further transfer of powers, 62 per cent said they would vote against a constitution which means further a transfer of power to the EU.

Labour MP Ian Gibson said: "We said in 1997 we would be the people's servants. The people want a referendum and we should give them one."

Neil O'Brien, campaign director of Vote 2004, said: "This poll will embarrass Mr Blair.

"Running away from a referendum is making his own constituents think he's lost his nerve. He's got to call one and come out fighting."

The full poll is available at www.vote2004.com/mediacentre/pdf/blair.pdf