Middlesborough, Sunderland and Newcastle are in the bottom five of a national survey measuring economic growth by Centre for Cities, which is part of the Institute for Public Policy Research.

Glen Athey, the report’s author, said: “The North East economy is still lagging behind the rest of the country. These cities still have problems. The regional development agency, central government and the councils are doing a lot, but they could do more.”

North Yorkshire faired better in the report, with York named as the country’s fifth best performing city, behind Cambridge, Southampton, Bristol and Reading. The chart was compiled using data covering the decade leading up to 2005.

The chart ranks Englands largest 56 cities and towns in terms of jobs, population growth and skills base.