[Amy]

HE knows a bit about Newcastle and a lot about burdz. So Frank McAvennie yesterday leapt to the defence of Geordie girls.

The former Celtic and Scotland ace who now lives on Tyneside has emerged as the unlikely champion of the local lassies.

And while Geordie Big Brother contestant Michelle Bass is hell-bent on giving Tynesiders a bad name, Macca's determined to set the record straight.

'Everyone should stop slagging off Geordie girls,' he said.

'The burdz just want to have fun.' Sex-mad Michelle, 23, seems to be trying her best to destroy the image of Geordie girls with her antics even her family are said to be ashamed by her boob-baring and late-night romps.

'The girls here know how to enjoy themselves,' said Frank, 45. 'People might perceive that as something else, they might think that they're just 'easy' but that's not the case.'

And as Frank's autobiography explains in graphic detail, this is a man with a global knowledge of wanton women.

'All right, some wear outrageous, sexy gear. They might look the part but that doesn't mean they act like slappers.'

Let's face it, Geordie women have been short of a good PR person up till now.

Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy has been a lone voice defending their reputation accusing Michelle of giving her home town a bad name with her s-exploits and irritating habit of calling people 'chicken'.

But at the city's notorious Bigg Market, Michelle's becoming something of a local heroine.

'I hated her at first but I think she's all right now,' said 19-year-old Stacey Park, a sunbed salon assistant. But what about her apparent eagerness to have the first BB bonk? Doesn't she make Geordie girls look a bit, well, available?

'Oh, we're nothing like that all,' says indignant 23-year-old Charlene Tams, a mother-of-three. 'I'm engaged!'

As Frank led the way through the city's hotspots, one thing was obvious flesh is a fashion accessory in Newcastle.

Despite monsoon-like weather, few had made any attempt to cover up with anything as 'softy' as a coat. 'It doesn't matter what the weather's like, they'll still be out without any coat,' said Frank.

'They do it because they can't be bothered waiting in the cloakroom queue at nightclubs. They don't want to waste any time on a night out. I like that idea.' Frank's infamous love of the glamour set took us to Newcastle's more sophisticated nightclubs where gorgeous blondes Jilly Durrant, 21, and Lauren Smith, 20, were fuming about Michelle's behaviour.

As they shared the trendy VIP area of Ikon nightclub with Macca, sipping pink champers, they raged that she is nothing like the Geordies they know.

'There are places in Newcastle where they'll give you a bottle of house champagne if you show them your boobs,' said Jilly, a sales consultant for BMW.

'I bet that's the kind of place Michelle goes, because that's exactly what she's doing in the Big Brother house.

'I'm so glad someone is bothering to find out what Geordie girls are really like.'

Lauren, a restaurant manager, said: 'If anyone were to call me chicken, I'd tell the turkey to get lost.'

'In my opinion, Newcastle is only second to Glasgow when it comes to having a great night out,' said Frank.

'You shouldn't judge Geordie birds because of one lassie on Big Brother.

'I wouldn't let anyone slag them off especially as I'm happily married to one.'

Article Sunday Mail