Genetic experts have found that most English children in Wearside and Durham boast the classic Viking look: blond hair and blue eyes

Sunderland Today:

The research – the North East Gene Pool – trawled dozens of schools to paint a fascinating picture of the biological make-up of the next generation.

In Tyne and Wear, researchers found mostly blond-haired, blue-eyed boys who were right handed, light skinned with no freckles.

In Durham, Nordic girls rule, but with freckles.

More than 2,600 children were surveyed during Science Week in March, including children at Murton Jubilee, South Hetton and Newbottle Primaries, as well as youngsters at Sunderland's Barbara Priestman School.

At Murton Jubilee, 57 pupils aged between seven and 10 took part.

Teacher Sue Finnigan said: "They absolutely loved it, right from the word go, and they are still talking about it now.

"We had to collect the information about hair, how short or long it was and other things and it set them away talking and thinking. It really brought out their observational and listening skills and was fantastic for group work.

"They ended up going around to other kids and staff, comparing their noses and eyes and really enjoyed it. It was a real buzz."

The least common trait found by the team, from Teesside University, was grey eyes.

Brown was the second most common eye colour in Tyne and Wear, but green in Durham.

Left-handers were heavily outnumbered: five to one in Tyne and Wear and four to one in Durham.

Karen Ferguson, science co-ordinator at Barbara Priestman School, said: "It was fascinating and linked in with what our older pupils are doing at GCSE. The children didn't realise that whether you could roll your tongue or if you had a widow's peak is all down to genetics, so it was really interesting."

Colin Wilkinson, director of Setpoint North East, which carried out the research to boost interest in science and technology, said: "Genes seem a very abstract part of science, but it manifests itself in such obvious way.

"The blond hair and blue eyes are fairly Nordic traits which could have links to the North East being continually invaded by Vikings. It does seem prevalent in the region and we need to check that picture to see how it fits in with the rest of England, the UK and worldwide.

"One of the aims of science week is get them talking about science and its role in everyday life."

NORTH EAST GENE POOL RESULTS

Children compile genetic profile