A COUNCIL is breaking links with a tourist board it said has made it feel like a poor relation.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will drop associations with Northumbria Tourist board and join forces with Yorkshire Tourist Board from April.

Middlesbrough Council has also revealed it could follow suit and leave Northumbria Tourist board behind.

Last year, Redcar and Cleveland council voted to include Yorkshire as part of the its address and to recognise the borough as part of Yorkshire for all cultural, ceremonial and sporting purposes.

It is hoped this latest move will improve the image of the area through the eyes of potential tourists.

The council's tourism promotions officer, Julie Marsden, said: "When people think of Northumbria, they think more of Newcastle and Gateshead than east Cleveland and we have always felt like the poor relations.

"We are very close to the North Yorkshire Moors and a lot of people tend to cherish the connection with area."

Chairman of Northumbria Tourist Board Councillor Bob Pendlebury said he was sorry about the council's decision.

He said: "It is a matter of concern for us. Redcar and Cleveland have been very strong supporters of us for many years, any loss of membership or support in the present climate of change taking place in the structure of tourism and enterprise in the region is of concern."

Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland council is holding a meeting later this month with tourism officials and businesses to discuss ways of improving visitor numbers to the area.

Its main tourist attractions include the Smugglers Heritage Centre, Saltburn, the Kirkleatham Museum and Owl Conservation Centre, Redcar Racecourse, Guisborough Forest and Walkway, Pinchinthorpe Hall Brewery and Gisborough Priory.

Speaking about its new ally, David Andrews, chief executive, Yorkshire Tourist Board said: "It is natural that Redcar and Cleveland should be marketed under the Yorkshire brand, after all, until 1974, the area was in Yorkshire.

"The local view is that the area has more in common with Yorkshire, its history and heritage is that of Yorkshire."

A spokesperson for Middlesbrough council said no decision had been made on the possibility of it also leaving the Northumbrian Tourist Board but that discussions were under way with the Yorkshire Tourist Board.