TYNE Tees Television has unveiled plans for a brand new multi million pound production centre on the banks of the River Tyne.

The move marks the end of four decades of television production at the Company's sprawling former warehouse complex in Newcastle's City Road.

Staff will move to the new site in Gateshead next summer though television chiefs have already warned that the relocation may mean up to 30 redundancies.

The £6million investment will bring state of the art digital news-gathering, studio and post-production technology to the North East - making the Tyneside television centre the most advanced in the North of England.

Network favourites such as After They Were Famous for ITV 1 and 100 Greatest for Channel 4 will be produced from the new site which will also accommodate the pioneering signing and subtitling unit SignPost.

Managing Director Graeme Thompson said: "This is a major investment by ITV in the North East. The prospect of moving from our old site to a production centre designed for the 21st Century is very exciting.

"There is a wealth of talent within Tune Tees and this move will allow us to further strengthen and develop our programmes. We have waited a long time for the opportunity to embrace the latest in digital television technology. And when it comes to our award-winning news, it will mean we can cover more stories, faster.''

He added: "Obviously we are going to be sad about leaving City Road after 45 years. It has produced classics such as The One O'Clock Show, Supergran and of course, the ground breaking Tube.

"But these buildings were opened at a time when most television shows were made in studios - nowadays the vast majority of programmes are shot on location. The new centre is being designed with that in mind.''

The move also signals investment in the news-gathering operation on Teesside, which produces a separately broadcast news service for the south of the region.

An additional bureau will also be opened to improve news coverage around Darlington and the Dales while the Sunderland news centre will remain as part of the City's University.

The announcement is part of a major investment in new studios and technology by the ITV News Group. New digital production centres have recently been oopened in Grampian, Meridian and Central.

News group chief executive Clive Jones commented: "The North East region has a special relationship with ITV and Tyne Tees Television.

Production here is distinctive and popular. We believe this investment and the move to a more state of the art site Will make our output even stronger.''