AN annual report into retail venues has shown mixed fortunes for the region's shopping centres.

Property and retail consultants Experian carried out surveys of more than 1,100 shopping locations covering more than 330,000 UK retail outlets.

The analysts allocated vitality index scores based on key performance indicators, such as the size of the centre by floor space, and the numbers of major multiple retailers and independent traders.

Newcastle is placed 19th in the rankings, equalling its 2001 position, with York having dropped six places to 22nd.

Gateshead's MetroCentre is ranked at equal 40th, alongside Milton Keynes and Oxford.

Middlesbrough dropped 12 places to joint 48th, with Sunderland equal 54th.

Felling, Saltburn and, bizarrely, Newcastle's Quayside, also figure in the report - but there was no mention of shopping centres such as Darlington, Durham, Stockton or Washington