THE 16th annual edition of the region's award-winning leisure guide is published free with The Northern Echo, on Tuesday.

Northern Leisure 2002 features 670 places in six different regions. For the second year, it includes Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Chester, as well as lots of information on places closer to home.

Last year's edition picked up an award from Newsquest North-East, for the best free publication provided with a newspaper.

David Simpson, who has researched and edited the guide, said: "There are 120 pictures in the guide, almost twice as many as last year and more than ever before, but with just as much information on places to visit and things to do.

"There are more than 4,800 things to see and do in Northern Leisure, from the Firth of Forth to the mouth of the Mersey, and from Doncaster to Dumfries."

The guide includes information on 1,300 events taking place this summer, as well as the history of 670 towns, villages and cities across the North of England and South of Scotland.

Stately homes, railways, leisure parks, castles, walks, pubs, golf courses, museums, galleries and other attractions throughout the north are featured.