A MOVE to drop Yorkshire from a council's address and replace it with Redcar and Cleveland has sparked anger among its members.

Labour councillor Richard Rudland proposed the motion at a Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council meeting in Eston Town Hall, on Thursday, saying that using two areas in their address was sending out the wrong message to residents.

He said that because of the name of the council, and that all its funding came from the Tees Valley area, the word Yorkshire should be removed from the postal address.

But the Liberal Democrats are upset that people in the borough were not given a say on the matter.

The inclusion of the word Yorkshire was introduced by a previous administration.

Coun Rudland said: "This council is concerned that the inclusion of Yorkshire as part of the council's postal address is contrary to this authority's commitment to economic development and strategic planning within the Tees Valley.

"It would be in the interests of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland to demonstrate our focus on issues that affect the Tees Valley by removing Yorkshire from the council's postal address and replacing it with Redcar and Cleveland."

He added: "We have nothing against Yorkshire, and we have nothing against anyone who still wants to use it in their address.

"But as a council, we have to take a strong stance and send out a responsible message to residents."

Councillor George Dunning agreed. He said: "Using the word Yorkshire was sending out all the wrong signals.

"This move benefits everyone in the Tees Valley. We had quite a few people coming in and asking if it could be changed."

However, Liberal Democrat group leader, Councillor Chris Abbott, said the borough was very much a part of Yorkshire.

He said: "This is an act of cultural vandalism. The North Riding of Yorkshire has never been abolished for cultural, ceremonial, sporting and postal purposes.

"Our borough is still a part of Yorkshire."

Councillor Josie Crawford said: "Labour said they would be open and transparent, and take the council to the people. Yet they refuse to give the people the opportunity to have their say on it."

The address will be changed by the chief executive at no cost to the council.

The move comes just months after seven signs saying "Part of historic North Riding of Yorkshire" were erected by the Redcar and Cleveland Council on roads leading to the borough.

The signs were paid for with a donation of £1,150 from the Yorkshire Ridings Society.