£15m allocated for culture and creativity in the north

A £15 million fund to boost culture and creativity in the North of England hasbeen launched.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said the money would have a "transformative local effect" and provide a legacy from next year's Great Exhibition Of The North.

The funding comes on top of £3.4 billion invested in projects to boost local economies, the northern powerhouse minister, Jake Berry, said.

The move comes with the Government under fire about a north-south divide in public spending.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling angered politicians in the North byannouncing Government support for a £30 billion Crossrail 2 scheme for London, days after axing or downgrading rail projects in Wales, the Midlands and the North.

Next year's Great Exhibition will take place in Newcastle and Gateshead, backed by 5 million of taxpayers' money to showcase Northern art, design and innovation.

The £15 million Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund is open to bids from across the North.

The first round of bids will be coordinated by Local Enterprise Partnerships in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Humber, Lancashire, Leeds City Region, Liverpool City Region, North East, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, York and North Yorkshire and East Riding.

The successful projects will be announced in March 2018.