A survey by Sky TV showed that when it comes to well-chiselled features and luscious locks, Wearside lads and lasses are way ahead of their Tyneside rivals.

Researchers said that high definition television means that it is not just the action on the football pitch which can be scrutinised by viewers as, with a picture four times clearer, fans are now finding themselves more on show during screened matches.

Sky worked with top model agency D1 Model Management to study footage of crowds from every Premier League match last season, and named Liverpool as having the hottest fans in the land.

Fulham were second, followed by Tottenham, then the Black Cats in fourth place.

Chelsea came fifth, one place above Newcastle, while Middlesbrough's supporters did not even make the top 10.

Dean Cleary-Patterson, from D1, said: "We're used to scouting the cream of British modelling talent in all sorts of weird and wonderful places, but football crowds are certainly a new concept for us.

"We typically take into account a whole range of aspects of a person's appearance, from the symmetry of their features to the glossiness of their hair.

"It's interesting to know we might need to start scouring the stands of Anfield or the Stadium to find our next big name."

SAFC has a number of stunning supporters making headway in the glamour world.

Dubliner Claire Tully has appeared on Page Three of The Sun and FHM magazine's High Street Honeys competition.

The 24-year-old, who has a first class degree in Biochemistry and Immunology, is also taking part in an Irish reality TV show – alongside Michelle Heaton – to raise cash for a breast cancer charity.

Also, 26-year-old recruitment consultant Michelle Thompson is at present top of the Sexy Football League, an online beauty contest based on Premier League teams by ukfootballfinder, with Newcastle at the bottom.

The former St Anthony's School pupil, from Nora Street, High Barnes, has also done modelling, fashion shows and appeared on reality channel Red TV.