The much-discussed North-South divide has, according to a new report, widened with the metropolis of London dominating and influencing the country from Lincolnshire to Cornwall.

According to the study by the University of Sheffield there has been an unprecedented migration of skilled workers from the North to London, between 1991 and 2001, which has resulted in a divided Britain.

The researchers of People and Places: A 2001 census atlas of the UK used census data from 1991 and 2001 to produce an atlas of 500 maps, which trace how a broad range of socio-economic trends has changed over the decade.

They defined the North as all counties located north of Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire, with the exception of Wales, which is also classed as 'northern'.

But why is Worcestershire situated in the North?

Another report, also published this week, says that the average household income in the county is greater than the national level.

The study, by research group CACI, estimated that average household income in the county in 2004 would be £30,687 compared to the national average of £29,374.

But the study also shows that despite this greater than average household income a shocking 20 per cent of children in Worcester live in poverty.

In Mid-Worcestershire the figure is 15 per cent, and in West Worcestershire it is 17 per cent.

The calculation is made against the official definition of a household in poverty - one in which income is below 60 per cent of the national average.

The figures show that there is a disparity between the rich and poor in the county, but it is not as great as the level seen in parts of London.

The People and Places study also states that those living in the South are likely to be better educated and earn more money than their northern counterparts.

They are also less likely to suffer from a long-term illness than those in the North, but have more doctors to treat them.

But Dr John Fagg, head of geography at UCW, does not believe that the northern position of the two counties is justified.

"I can't believe that Grimsby and Scunthorpe, which are on the south of the divide, are more prosperous than Herefordshire and Worcestershire," said Dr Fagg.

"In fact, quite the opposite. It seems that the report adopts a fairly broad-brush approach.

"If you look at the where in the country they say have the local authorities with the poorest households nine out of ten are in London.

"So what you have are the areas of poverty in parts of the city that are next to, ironically, places of wealth where people earn a fortune.

"The notion that the people of Worcester (pictured above) are somehow on the brink of poverty because there're on the "poor" section of this map in ridiculous.

"When your readers pick up their newspapers and they see this line, do they somehow feel that they are at the level of poverty comparable to that found in inner London? I think not."

City MP Mike Foster said anyone looking at the line in such a crude manner as poor North and rich South was missing the point.

He said Worcester has a range of income levels and people should look at their own personal circumstances.

"I have seen some desperately deprived areas in London, supposedly the rich South," he said.

"Yet if you go up to the footballers paradise that is Cheshire there are some very wealthy areas."

Mayor of Worcester, Allah Ditta, said he could not see why the city was situated North of the divide.

"I'm conscious of the fact that we have nothing in common with the North East," said Coun Ditta.

Commenting on the findings, co-author of the report, Professor Daniel Dorling said that the country is being split in half.

"To the south is the metropolis of Greater London, to the north and west is the 'archipelago of the provinces' - city islands that appear to be slowly sinking demographically, socially and economically," said Prof Dorling.

He said London has fuelled the South's economic dominance, with more than 1.7 million jobs created in the booming capital-based financial sector, between 1991 and 2001.

The director general of the British Chamber of Commerce, David Frost, said regional economic development is being held back by failures to address regional transport problems.

"We need a sense of realism in Government. If it is serious about regeneration and spending money in a responsible manner, then some regeneration funds must be spent on improving transport links.

"Such investment will achieve regeneration objectives by removing the barriers to increased economic activity.

There is mounting evidence showing the negative impact that transport failings are having on business, jobs and regional development. Our own transport study confirms this.