A CAMPAIGN to attract more travellers to the North-East will be launched on St George's Day.

The event on Wednesday will also highlight Newcastle and Gateshead as a leading city break destination and a strong contender for European Capital of Culture 2008.

Flying the flag for the North-East in the VisitEngland tourism drive is the regional development agency One NorthEast, which took up strategic responsibility for tourism at the beginning of the month.

Part of the national television advert was filmed on Gateshead Millennium Bridge this week.

Newcastle and Gateshead were chosen by the advertising agency as having the "buzz and vibrancy" to represent lively cities across England.

It is another boost to the region's bid for European Capital of Culture 2008.