FOOTBALL fans from the North-East are the most dedicated away-game supporters in the country, research shows.

Newcastle United and Sunderland supporters travelled a combined distance of almost 50 million miles last season to watch their teams in action.

The distance for each club is ten times the distance between the earth and the moon.

The clubs came first and second, respectively, in the Fans Miles League, closely followed by Middlesbrough in fourth position.

Darlington fans travelled 7,185,600 miles and came in 48th, while Hartlepool United supporters roamed 7,110,400, picking up the 49th position.

Frank Gilmour, chairman of the Independent Newcastle United Supporters Association, said: "This shows the fantastic support of Newcastle fans, and there are lots of people where football is their whole life.

"It is inbred in people up here and they live it, talk it, breathe it and would die for it."

The league was calculated by Continental Tyres, an official partner of next year's World Cup finals in Germany.

It analysed all 92 league clubs in England and Wales.

Martyn McFadden, editor of Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme, said he thought Black Cats fans should have been top.

He said: "I like to be at the top of the table, and as we do not consider Newcastle United to be a football club, I think we have won.

"Sunderland have got a fantastic away game following, and it is great to have that recognised."