AN airport's expansion plans could mean congestion on the region's roads, councillors fear.

Durham County Council is calling on bosses at Newcastle International Airport to do more to encourage alternatives to the car.

And it has offered to help the airport look at setting up a park-and-ride site to reduce traffic using the A1 route.

The airport, which expects passenger numbers to treble to 9.5 million passengers in the next 15 years, has produced a 12-year masterplan that proposes to more than double the amount of parking space, to 12,450, to meet the increased demand.

The airport predicts its expansion will see the number of vehicles travelling to it each day rising from 15,687 in 2000 to 38,043 in 2016.

The council, a shareholder in the airport, says steps should be taken to reduce the amount of traffic.

Its deputy chief executive, Chris Tunstall, told members of the council's cabinet that the masterplan was "exciting".

"But it does not take account of the effect its proposals will have on the region's strategic road network," he said.

Mr Tunstall said many passengers came from County Durham, Tees Valley and Yorkshire.

He said there should be better bus and coach services and the airport, which is on the Tyne and Wear Metro system, should consider a conventional rail link.

"Consideration should also be given to the use of off-site parking, including the possibility of an airport park-and-ride facility in County Durham to serve residents and intercept airport traffic from the A1.

"Without such measures, the airport's predicted traffic growth will add to the problems of congestion in County Durham, especially along the A1."

Council leader Ken Manton said: "Disappointingly, it generally dismisses the value of major investment in public transport in favour of increasing its car parking capacity, coupled with some road improvements in the immediate vicinity."