Conservative leader David Cameron has described a report written by right-wing thinktank as "rubbish from start to finish".

The report from Policy Exchange, which has close ties to the Conservative Party, was heavily critical of some northern towns and cities, such as Liverpool and Rochdale.

It did, however, find time to praise Manchester as the north's most prosperous city but said it could not be expected to regenerate large swathes of England.

On a visit to the north, Tory leader David Cameron made it clear he was deeply opposed to the report's proposals.

"It certainly won't become Conservative policy," he said.

"Conservative policy is focused on the good work of continuing the regeneration resurgence of cities right across England, including in the north of England."

Meanwhile, the Campaign to Protect Rural England has said that it is difficult to find "anything sensible" in the report.

The government has also been highly critical of the report, arguing that a decade of sustained investment in Liverpool, Manchester and other key cities and towns had been very successful.

Liverpool is currently mid-way through its Capital of Culture year and has enjoyed a massive boost to its tourism and culture sector.