THE North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) is calling for road improvements across the region to begin earlier than scheduled.

In a report, it has raised concern over the completion date of the upgrading of the A1 south through County Durham and Yorkshire, which is set at 2011.

The NECC has said it will continue lobbying Government officials for an earlier completion of the work to help meet business needs across the region.

Similar action will be taken to ensure the A66 between Scotch Corner and Penrith is made into a dual carriageway by next year, as scheduled.

Plans to lobby for dual carriageways on roads around Darlington are planned.

The NECC published a regional transport strategy to identify infrastructure priorities for transport in the North-East.

It also focused on upgrading the A1 north of Newcastle to a consistently high-quality motorway.

A spokesman for the NECC said failure to upgrade the road would do little for the image of the North-East.

He said: "The North-East should be seen as a well-connected region on a main road artery connecting London and Edinburgh.

"Instead, we have a dangerous, single-carriageway road, which is unsustainable as a freight highway and provides, at best, difficult access to Scotland."

The NECC wants a second Tyne Tunnel and supports proposals for a road and rail crossing over the River Tees.