THE chancellor of a North-East university has joined the growing band of politicians calling for Tony Blair to set a firm date for leaving Number 10.

Lord Puttnam, the film producer and chancellor of the University of Sunderland, has said Mr Blair should commit to the future at next year's party conference.

He said: "We now have a window of opportunity. The Prime Minister is entitled to his ten years, but at the 2007 conference, he either needs to tell us that he is going, or announce the results of a leadership contest.

"If he manages that, there is an elegance and symmetry to it and we might just be back on the right track."

Mr Blair has come under increasing pressure to announce the date he would relinquish the role in recent weeks.

The calls follow the Labour Party's local election drubbing at the start of the month and the sacking of Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

Backbench MPs have also called on the the Prime Minister to announce when he would hand over control of the party.

Chancellor Gordon Brown is expected to become party leader when Mr Blair stands down.