SNOOTY art critic Brian Sewell has delivered a barbed put down to the North-East on the eve of the announcement of the 2008 Capital of Culture winner.

Speaking during a tour of Tyneside for a BBC documentary on the region's culture, the outspoken journalist branded Newcastle "pretty hideous" and likened it to eastern Europe.

He was invited to the North to see why the Newcastle/Gateshead bid is among the favourites for the coveted European Capital of Culture accolade for 2008.

The half-hour documentary charting his visit, escorted by Viz magazine creator Chris Donald, is screened tonight - two days before Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell reveals the winning city from the shortlisted six finalists.

Mr Sewell can be seen looking round the Baltic art centre, the Laing Art Gallery, several architectural landmarks, as well as the Strawberry pub, the favourite pre-match watering hole in the shadow of St James' Park.

Despite acknowledged widespread improvements on the Quayside and elsewhere in the city, Mr Sewell told radio listeners during his visit that he felt Newcastle was "not getting any better".

On leaving his train at Newcastle Central Station, Sewell snapped: "It's very eastern European, isn't it? Sort of the outskirts of Zagreb."

He also criticised some of Tyneside's architectural gems, and made reference to the "bad engineering" of the Angel of the North, which he described as "a totem".

Mr Sewell dismissed the multi-award winning "blinking eye" Millennium Bridge, as looking, "like an old-fashioned machine that you use for egg slicing."

Sir Ian Wrigglesworth, chairman of the Newcastle- Gateshead Initiative, which is behind the Capital of Culture bid, gave a diplomatic response.

"Brian Sewell is entitled to his view," said Sir Ian."NewcastleGateshead is a great place to be."

But Ged Bell, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member responsible for culture, tourism and sport, was not impressed.

He said: "It's disappointing that a man of his obvious intelligence should find it so difficult to accept that culture can exist in many different forms and in places outside London."

Gateshead Council leader Mick Henry said: "I think the entire region would join me in saying that once again Mr Sewell has got it very, very wrong."

* The documentary, Inside Out, is broadcast on BBC1, at 7.30pm.