THE North-East has come out bottom of the heap in the first of a series of quality of life surveys.

Indicators from economic output to air quality have been included in the Government's study, which aims to chart improvements in sustainable development.

Of the 15 categories set out in the report, the North-East has come bottom in six, including economic output, employment, recycling waste and the number of people living in housing classified as "non-decent".

Life expectancies were also lowest in the region, with men expected to reach 73.2 years and women 78.5, compared with an English average of 74.7 for men and 79.8 for women.

Men in the east of England could expect to live the longest, at 76 years, while women in the South-West could reach 80.9.

The North-East also had the largest increase in road traffic, but the region also showed the highest level of manufacturing investment, along with Wales.

Poverty and social exclusion issues also saw the region ranked bottom, alongside Wales, the West Midlands and London.

But environment minister Michael Meacher insisted the tables did not show evidence of a North-South divide.

He said: "It is a patchwork quilt, and there are more disparities within regions than between them. It's too simplistic to use these figures as a set of league tables."

Publication of the report coincided with the launch of a Government survey to find out what people think of the cat-egories, seen as a "barometer" of our social, economic and environmental well-being.

Mr Meacher said: "A better quality of life for all is at the heart of the Government's sustainable development strategy.

"We must encourage communities to play their part in improving our quality of life. That means listening to people, to understand what 'quality of life' really means to them."