THE wording on signs for a re-named airport remains unresolved, as both sides seek to find common ground.

Officials from Durham Tees Valley Airport want signs on major trunk roads which bear the old Teesside Airport name to be replaced by ones carrying the new title.

But a spokesman for the Highways Agency, which has responsibility for signs on trunk roads, told the D&S Times that for certain key points on those roads, it was planned to use just an aircraft symbol to direct motorists to their destination.

"The agency believes putting Durham Tees Valley together on a sign will cause confusion, with people thinking they are heading for Durham City and the Tees Valley and ending up at the airport by mistake," he added. "There would be a real problem there."

However, airport managing director Hugh Lang said: "The primary issue seems to be that the Highways Agency doesn't believe it should have names on airport signs. They view the inclusion of a name as advertising and road signs are not for advertising."

He does not object to the use of an unnamed symbol once motorists are inside the airport's main catchment area.

"Our issue with the Highways Agency is regarding the A1, A66 and A19," he said. "The lack of a name on those roads would be unacceptable and only lead to confusion.

"Discussions are still ongoing, but whatever the final agreement is we want the name of the airport on trunk road signs. We don't view it as advertising."

Asked if he would be happy with an abbreviation such as DTV Airport, Mr Lang said discussions had not yet gone that far.

The Highways Agency said if airport officials would not agree to the aircraft symbol alone, then it was "back to the drawing board".