NORTH and south have shared the honours in the annual league table of towns and cities with the most profit-making companies.

York shared the top spot with the south coast's big holiday spot, Brighton, with both cities having 85 per cent of their top companies in profit, according to business information company D&B.

The North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate took sixth place, with 81.9 per cent of businesses in profit.

Nowhere else in the North-East reached the top 20, although Middlesbrough was in 22nd place with 77.4 per cent.

In 52nd position was Sunderland with 74.4 per cent and Newcastle was 60th with 74 per cent. Stockton managed only 124th place with 66.7 per cent.

The attractions of York's heritage and its surrounding countryside and its easy rail connections were cited as among the assets the helped city businesses recruit and retain senior executives.