A NORTH-EAST beach is taking over as the top destination for the UK's leading surfers.

The O'Neill British Cup, one of the most important British surfing events of the year, is traditionally held at popular surfing beaches such as Newquay, in Cornwall.

But the country's finest surfers will gather for the competition this year at Tynemouth, on North Tyneside. It is the first time the British Surfing Association has held a major event in the North-East.

O'Neill's marketing manager, Paul Wilkinson, said: "Such a high-profile event coming to this region is significant enough to prove that you do not have to be in the South to surf.

"We hope that, by bringing the event to the North-East, we can raise the profile of surfing in the region."

The contest will be a homecoming for the UK's number one surfer, Sam Lamiroy, who went to school in nearby Cullercoats.

He said: "After surfing in Indonesia this summer, notably one of the best surfs in the world, I came back to England and had better waves in Newcastle.

"Yes, Tynemouth is cold and does not get waves all year, but when it does, they are fantastic."

The O'Neill British Cup takes place on Longsands beach, at Tynemouth, on October 18 and 19.