A EURO MP is taking legal advice after he was not allowed to board a flight even though he was carrying a diplomatic passport.

Officials at Durham-Tees Valley Airport refused North-East MEP Stephen Hughes entry on to the flight to Brussels because they would not accept his Laissez-Passer documentation.

Mr Hughes has written to the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering, calling for his assistance after he was not allowed to board the Eastern Airways flight yesterday morning.

He said the actions of the officials restricted his freedom of movement and prevented him from working.

The airline has apologised for the mistake and admitted that the document was acceptable.

Every MEP is given a Laissez-Passer passport.

Mr Hughes said he normally used his British passport for travelling. However, this was with the Chinese Embassy getting a visa for a visit to Nepal he is making next month.

Mr Hughes said he gave the officials a link to a website, which had the relevant information about the Laissez-Passer documentation, but they still refused to let him on the plane.

He said: "It's incredible, I'm unable to do my job for the two and a half million people I represent.

"For 23 years, I've been representing people and using both the British and diplomatic passport and never had this happen before. My solicitors have allocated a lawyer to pursue this point in law. I feel that this is really a breach of diplomatic procedure."

A spokeswoman for Durham-Tees Valley Airport said: "This is an issue with the handlers, the airline and immigration and not something that we would get involved in and comment on."

An Eastern Airways spokesman, said: "A passenger presented our handling agent, Aviance, with a travel document that they were unsure about and, as part of their procedures, they contacted immigration in Brussels to check the validity of the document.

"Brussels immigration's initial response was that the document was unacceptable for travel.

"As the aircraft was due to miss its slot, the handling agent took the decision for the aircraft to depart without the passenger. Subsequently, it has been confirmed by Brussels immigration that the document was in fact acceptable.

"We apologise that the passenger's travel plans have been disrupted and we have made alternative arrangements for him to travel today."