THE North-East is the third most friendly UK region to visitors, according to a survey.

It found Londoners were perceived as "rude, uptight, arrogant and selfish", and named people from King's Lynn, in Norfolk, as the least friendly.

The North-East was the most friendly, after Scotland and the South-West.

In addition to faring well as a nation, the Scots are recognised as having the friendliest city - with Edinburgh coming top of the league.

The survey, involving 1,000 people, was commissioned to mark Play UK's League of Gentlemen Week, starting today, when every episode of the hit comedy will be shown.

Based on the fictional town of Royston Vasey, the TV series features characters who take a dim view of strangers for not being local.

Peter Burns, professor of International Tourism and Development at Brighton University, said: "Scotland's supremacy over England in the league tables reflects the Celtic culture, which has a tradition of greater hospitality towards strangers."