The debate over the north-south divide has been stoked by new figures on both pay packets and the economy. Wages of workers in the south of England are continuing to surge above those of people in the north, according to the Office for National Statistics.

And a separate report showed signs of economic recovery in some parts of the UK, but not in others.

Londoners take home an average of £520 a week before tax, far above the UK average of £400, said the ONS. Workers in the south east have the second-highest pay packets - £423.20. But workers in the north east are at the bottom of the pay scale, with average weekly pay of £349.60.

Weekly wages in Wales are also well below the average at £353.60 and in Scotland the average take-home pay is £364.90.

The average annual salary in the UK before tax is £20,919, the ONS survey showed.