A REGIONAL boss has defended the South East against Northern taunts that it's grim. Anthony Dunnett, chief executive of the South East England Development Agency, the organisation that runs Chatham Maritime, said the region had a lot going for it.

The region faced challenges, he said, but they were the "challenges of success."

It was a great region. "We've got more areas of outstanding natural beauty, we've got more access to culture, heritage, events and activities than almost any other region in the country," he said. "We've got brilliant access to Europe, to London and to the airports. We've got nothing to fear."

A furious row was sparked by a Northwest Development Agency newspaper story headlined "It's grim down south." Mr Dunnett tried to play down the row, saying the North West campaign was "tongue in cheek."

But he admitted it was "unfortunate" that regions should make comparisons with each other. It was more important to focus on individual strengths and work together for the good of "UK Plc."

He rejected the claim that the North West was always cheaper. "There are some places in the south each which are cheaper to operate in than Manchester," he said. "You can play all sorts of games with statistics."

The South East had grown because of its position in the international marketplace, not its status in the UK.

"We should be focusing on winning for the UK," he said. "It's a re-run of the North-South divide and that story is played out." He added: "I don't think it's grim down south."

Mr Dunnett, who has worked in Manchester and previously promoted the North West as a good place to invest, said the NDA campaign was a "clever PR ruse" and SEEDA had no intention of indulging in "tit for tat."