BOSSES at Teesside Airport last night said it was their firm intention to press ahead with the controversial name change to Durham Tees Valley.

The airport, near Darlington, revealed last October that it was planning a re-branding exercise, which would include changing its name.

Several options - including James Cook International Airport, in memory of the famous North-East explorer - were considered before the Durham Tees Valley name was agreed.

However, the name has still not been changed, despite officials saying that it would have done so by the start of the summer. Commercial manager Richard Whitehouse said last night: "We are still planning to go ahead with it.

"The delay is to do with the practicalities, but it is our firm intention to carry out the re-branding. There is no definite date, but it will be in the next couple of months."

The practicalities causing the hold-up include the replacing of up to 60 road signs throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire, bearing the Teesside Airport name.

The airport sparked anger in May when it emerged that taxpayers would foot part of the £250,000 bill for the move.