Kathryn and her band also performed on Norwegian radio

The prediction comes after award-winning Northumberland piper and composer Kathryn Tickell was invited to play at a special concert in Norway.

She was invited as part of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of Norwegian independence.

The musician composed a special suite depicting the North East's countryside.

The Northumbrian Suite, specially-commissioned for the occasion, describes the hills, rivers and immense open spaces of the Northumbrian countryside through a range of music entitled Singing Waters, Hareshaw Burn, Weardale and Redesdale.

The suite was composed for the Hardanger Fiddle, which has a special significance in Norway.

During the trip Kathryn and her band also performed on Norwegian radio. They were also interviewed and were able to promote the North East to a wider audience.

'Haunting sound'

Kathryn, who comes from the North Tyne Valley of Northumberland, started playing the Northumbrian pipes when she was nine years old and later took up the fiddle.

She has played with the likes of fellow North Easterner Sting and has released 11 albums of her own.

She said: "It was an honour to be asked to write these pieces and to travel to Norway to perform them.

"It was particularly interesting for me to work with the traditional instruments of Northumberland and Norway - the Northumbrian pipes and Hardanger fiddle.

"Both instruments seem to have something in common - that haunting sound, which evokes bleaks and beautiful landscapes, wind and sky."

Tom Burnham, of Business Link for Northumberland, which helped organise the Norwegian trip, added: "There are already close relations between Norway and the North East and we commissioned Kathryn to compose the suite to help celebrate this special anniversary in Norwegian history.

"The concert proved such a success, there is already talk among the businesses that attended of funding a return visit."