Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced the regional winners of a competition to find the UK’s most enterprising towns and cities.

Enterprising Britain, launched this year, rewards regional areas that have done the most to improve their local economy thorough business development.

The British Capital of Enterprise will be announced in spring 2005, with a further European wide competition being considered by member states.

The competition will culminate in a national final during next months Enterprise Week and will be judged by a panel of independent business leaders.

Brown said: “I am absolutely delighted at the degree of interest this competition has generated.

“Throughout the world, Britain is recognised as a country of enterprise fired by innovation, fuelled by hard work and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. I congratulate today’s winning communities.”

The regional winners include:

  • South Tyneside, nominated by One NorthEast
  • Blackburn, nominated by NorthWest Regional Development Agency
  • Hatton Garden, nominated by London Development Agency
  • Sherwood energy Village in Ollerton, nominated by East Midland Development Agency.