THE Campaign for a North-East Assembly (CNA) is hoping to celebrate ten years of campaigning for devolution to the region with a breakthrough.

The group meets this weekend, with expectations high that the North-East will be the first region to get its own elected assembly.

The Government is expected to publish a White Paper in May with referendum legislation to follow in the autumn.

A recent BBC poll showed support in the region for elected regional government at an all-time high of 72 per cent.

CNA coordinator Brian Hall said: "It has been ten years hard slog, but it now looks as if we have really broken through.

"The public are solidly behind our campaign. But we need to keep the pressure on to make sure the timetable doesn't slip, and we need to start to prepare for a yes vote campaign for the referendum.

"This means more hard work, but it will be worth it if the region gets the chance to make its own decisions and control its own destiny."

The group's annual meeting is at Gateshead Civic Centre tomorrow, from 10am to 1pm.

The open session is 11.30am to 1pm, with speeches from Joyce Quin MP, Don Price, of Campaign for the English Regions, and Councillor Maelor Williams, of Middlesbrough Council.

For further information, call 0191-265 8158 or 0793 278 4338.