THE North-East has emerged as one of the biggest winners from the Government's flagship job creation fund which has announced its second round of awards this morning.

In total, 49 bids from this region have been pledged money from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) which will create 8,500 direct jobs and an additional 17,000 positions across the supply chain.

Cummins Engines of Darlington, airport scanner specialists Kromek, Teesport operator PD Ports and engineering firm ThyssenKrupp Tallent are among the Tees Valley firms that have been awarded funding from the £950m payout which targets private sector job creation in the most deprived areas of the country.

Confirming the winners from the fund, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "I am delighted to be able to announce this boost to business, which will jump start growth and create jobs that last in the places that really need it.

"This targeted support for businesses across the country allows them to expand and create jobs.

"It unlocks private sector investment – with at least £5 put in for every £1 of public money.

"People in the rest of Britain have been let down for far too long by governments in thrall to one Square Mile of it. "The first pot of Regional Growth Fund money is already making a difference across the country - helping to rebalance our economy so that every region and sector benefits."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “We need to be doing all we can to enable businesses and organisations to create much needed jobs and inject private investment into the economy.

“We have announced today that a further 119 projects will benefit from the fund, and expect to deliver a huge number of jobs across their businesses and in the supply chain.

“This is a very significant boost to local communities, and the Regional Growth Fund will help businesses to drive local growth.”