Gordon Brown has vowed that he will "never give up" as he sought to ramp up campaigning with just five days left to turn the General Election around.

In spirited remarks to journalists as he travelled to the North East, the Prime Minister declared he was fighting for his life.

He dismissed decisions by The Times and The Guardian to switch their endorsements away from Labour as irrelevant in the scheme of Thursday's poll.

Asked whether he was up for the battle ahead, he said: "Absolutely determined.

"I'm fighting not just for my life but I'm fighting for what I believe is important for the future of the country.

"You will see us fighting every minute of every day, every second of every day, for every vote until the campaign is complete.

"I never give up and I will never give up."

Challenged as to what he could do now to come back from third in the polls, Mr Brown said: "Wait and see. Wait and see. We are fighters.

"Just wait and see what message we are putting to the British people over the next few days."