HIGHWAYS bosses have delayed replacing more than 60 road signs to the renamed Teesside Airport over fears that it could confuse motorists.

The owners of the airport renamed it Durham Tees Valley Airport on September 27, despite widespread protests.

But the roadside signs directing drivers to Teesside Airport have yet to be changed because Highways Agency experts were worried that people from outside the area may have thought they were heading towards Durham City.

The Northern Echo understands that at first civil servants at the Government agency did not want the signs changed at all.

There were also worries that the taxpayer would be forced to pay at least part of the £250,000 needed to change the 60 airport signs across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

The Highways Agency has now agreed the signs must be changed and negotiations are continuing about the wording to be used.

It has also been revealed that Peel Airports, majority owner of Durham Tees Valley Airport, will pay all the money to erect the signs.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "The Highways Agency is in discussion with the airport authorities. The discussion is not about whether the signs should be changed but what the signs actually say. We are hoping to conclude the negotiations to everyone's satisfaction in the near future."

Richard Whitehouse, commercial manager at Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: "We hope to conclude these discussions as speedily as possible."

A spokesman for regional development agency One NorthEast said that, while no public money had been spent on changing the airport's name, other money had been invested on improving airport transport links.

He said: "One NorthEast invested £1.8m into the construction of a new road that improves access to the airport's business park. We are also funding the flight link bus service linking Darlington Railway Station to the airport."

The airport authorities will contact local councils about changing other road signs once negotiations with the Highways Agency are concluded