Voters in northeast England have overwhelmingly rejected the Labour Party's plans for local self-government.
The Electoral Commission said 696,519 people (78 per cent) voted against the proposals to establish a regional parliament with responsibility for issues such as transport and housing. Only 197,310 (22 per cent) voted in favour.
In an all-postal ballot 47.8 per cent of the region's 1.9 million voters took part in the referendum, an initiative championed by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott after devolution in Scotland, Wales and London.
The government also has plans to hold referendums in the northwest of England as well as in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Mr Prescott opted against holding referendums in the south, the midlands and the east of England due to insufficient interest. In the west midlands only 16 per cent of respondents had said they wanted a referendum.