TWO wildlife agencies will join forces today when they sign a 100-year lease for a multi-million pound bird reserve.

The RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust (TET) will sign the lease for the new Saltholme reserve, which will unite them as partners for the next century.

Stockton North MP Frank Cook is hosting a breakfast briefing for civic leaders and business representatives at Durham University's Stockton campus, to celebrate progress on the creation of the project, which is to open late next summer.

Construction of a Wild Bird Discovery Centre is well under way, and the rapid progress of the pioneering visitor centre is a huge boost for the RSPB and TET, who are hoping to create a new tourism site for the region.

Saltholme is one of the biggest construction projects ever undertaken by the RSPB.

Mr Cook said: "I am delighted to be able to support the innovative Saltholme project. It is wonderful to see the natural world playing a part in our ambitious regeneration plans for the Tees Valley.

"Not only will Saltholme open up the secrets of Teesside's wildlife to visitors and local communities, but it will also serve as a gateway for wildlife tourism across the rest of the North-East region."

RSPB Saltholme project manager Kevin Bayes said: "This is a massive project for the RSPB and the Teesside Environmental Trust. It represents an extraordinary amount of hard work, and we are delighted to have Frank Cook's support for this exciting and ambitious project."

David Kitchen, chairman of TET said: "After almost ten years of patient planning behind the scenes, to see the project materialising before us on the ground is an absolute thrill."