We do have a part of England called the east of England. Broadly it describes england from the Thames to the Humber, broadly Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. At least thats what it brings in my mind when I see it written.
I'd say the North East begins where Yorkshire ends, its northumberland and County Durham (Teeside and Tyneside in there as well but you know what I mean).
― Ed (dali), Saturday, 1 February 2003 17:43 (twenty-one years ago) link