MPs will present a petition signed by more than 4800 people to transport minister Kim Howells against plans to cut train services in the region.

Passenger groups and MPs have been angered by plans to cut direct services between Saltburn, Middlesbrough and Newcastle - meaning passengers will have to change at Darlington - and reduce the number of trains on the Durham coastline.

Ashok Kumar MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and Redcar MP Vera Baird and Stockton South MP Dari Taylor will be meeting with the transport minister on Monday to discuss the threat from the Strategic Rail Authority to the future running of the direct rail service.

They will be joined by senior transport officer Andy Hyams, from the Tees Valley Joint Strategy Unit.

Dr Kumar said: "We will be telling the minister that figures show patronage on this service has increased by more than 20 per cent and are still increasing.

"We will be saying that Mr Howell's changes to the structure of the rail industry, recently announced, mean that a proper regional perspective has to be put on services such as this one.

"And we will be pointing out that in the current snowy weather, the rail service is providing a safe, speedy alternative to a dangerous and overcrowded A1 and A19."

Dr Kumar believes the direct service is a lifeline to seaside towns like Saltburn and that it is important for regional tourism and an important link between the two regional campuses of Durham University at Durham and Stockton.

"This service is seen to be of great importance to local people," he continued.

"I expect we will get a good reception from the minister and that our arguments will prevail."