The north of England should be doing more to benefit from the strength of London's economy, a new report has suggested.

A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research's Centre for Cities said that currently most of the benefits go to the greater South East area.

Regions further afield are not tapping the full potential of the capital's economic vitality, added the review.

At the top of the rankings, sales to London from the South East are estimated at over £28bn, with £16.4bn from the East of England and £12.8bn from the West Midlands.

In the middle of the table, the South West sells around £10.5bn to London and the North West sells goods and services worth some £9.5bn.

In contrast, the East Midlands has sales of £8.8bn, Yorkshire and Humberside has sales of £7.6bn and the North East has sales of just £2.6bn.

Dermot Finch, director of the Centre for Cities, said that London's global strength "is vital to the British economy" and required investment in projects such as Crossrail.

"But new transport links are vital between London and other regions too, to ensure that trade between other regions and the capital grows," he said.

"At the moment, Reading makes more from London than Rotherham, and Brighton benefits more than Burnley.

"Regional development agencies, the mayor of London and other city leaders should promote stronger trade and investment links between London and all other cities.

"This will help spread economic growth, by creating jobs across the country."