THE TUC has called on the Government to provide more funding to urgently tackle what it calls "pockets of poverty" in the North-East.

A report out next month highlights areas of high unemployment in the region said to be among the worst in the country.

The report, called Half The World Away - Making Regional Development Work, identifies Middlesbrough, South Tyneside, Newcastle, Blyth Valley, and Redcar and Cleveland as having twice the national unemployment average.

The TUC says regional development agencies such as One NorthEast desperately need more cash to develop the North-East economy to create employment and combat poverty.

The unemployment rate in the region stands at 7.9 per cent with about 94,000 people said to be looking for work.

But the TUC report claims this could be as high as 17 per cent with official figures shielding the real problem.

General secretary John Monks said: "Unemployment in the North-East is well above the national average, but in the areas we identify it is about double.

"Britain faces more than just a North-South divide when it comes to unemployment and productivity.

"It is clear that development agencies such as One NorthEast need extra funding to boost the regional economy and tackle these pockets of poverty."

Steve Rankin, North-East regional director for the Confederation of British Industry, said: "More money for investment is needed as the North-East continues to lag towards the bottom of the table in terms of employment.

"But that is only one issue - the money, wherever it comes from, needs to be spent in the right way.

"The strategy that One NorthEast is following is okay, but we want to see as much priority given to established business and industry as to inward investors. Transport infrastructure is also key and it is important that continuing improvements to roads and rail are made."

Half The World Away - Making Regional Development Work will be published on Monday, July 8.