Why so little concern over £2.7 million of taxpayer's money?

It was, said the woman from the Local Government department, a "regrettable error." A £2.7 million government regeneration grant went to the wrong Newcastle after Whitehall confused the North East powerhouse with Newcastle-Under-Lyme, a Staffordshire market town 185 miles away.

"We assumed it was in recognition of the work we’ve done to encourage business in the borough," said Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle under Lyme. "We have no intention of giving the money back at this stage."

Meanwhile John Shipley, leader of Newcastle upon Tyne council, shrugged his shoulders. "A year ago officers expressed surprise that we hadn’t got more money under the scheme. Our officers thought we’d got less money than we expected. We queried it and we were told we had the correct sum.”

All just a joke then. But will the money end up in the right place? No sign of it from Whitehall, who may not even have the power to take it back. "We are working closely with the councils involved, and are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again," they said, perhaps not quite contritely enough.