The art critic Brian Sewell, who said people in the North East were not sophisticated, is the subject of a "lobby group" formed to make him see the region in a new light.

Mr Sewell enraged people on Tyneside with his comments about an art exhibition due to open at the Baltic gallery in Gateshead.

He said the exhibition, showing radical European works, was too important to be held only in the North East and should be shown to "more sophisticated" audiences in London.

Now a Tyneside group wants to give Mr Sewell the title of Honorary Geordie for attracting attention to the region.

Dinner parties

As well as giving him the Geordie title, the group Sewell's A Geordie (SAG) has also sent him a package of North East kippers, stottie, and bottle of Brown Ale.

Chairman of SAG, Paul Easton, said: "Brian Sewell has done more to get northern arts and culture discussed in pubs and at dinner parties throughout the land than any other single individual.

"He should be recognised as a cultural ambassador for the North East for all his work.

Councils lobbied

"We want to bring him up here and expose him to North East hospitality, culture and scenery."

Mr Easton, 45, will lobby the North East art world and Newcastle and Gateshead councils to have Mr Sewell granted honorary Geordie status.

The Cobra art exhibition is due to open at the Baltic in February.