A NORTH-EAST businessman will make aviation history when he becomes the very last fare-paying passenger on Concorde.

Stephen Best of Durham will share the flight with a galaxy of stars when the supersonic jet takes to the skies for its last journey this week.

He will be joining the likes of Joan Collins, Sir Elton John and David Frost on the flight from New York to London on Friday.

Mr Best, who has property interests in Durham, said: "I often travel by Concorde, because I have business interests here and in America.

"This flight was booked over a year ago before anyone knew Concorde was going to be taken out of service.

"British Airways say I am the last fare-paying passenger in Concorde's history.

"I am also the only fare-paying passenger on the last Concorde flight ever."

Mr Best, who is president of one of the biggest opencast mining companies in America, spoke as he prepared to join a Concorde flight for his outward journey to New York.

He will spend the next few days in business talks on the expansion of his fast-food business, before returning on the last flight.

A British Airways spokesman said: "Mr Best is the last fare-paying passenger and the only one on the last flight.

"He had already booked the flight before we announced the retirement of Concorde and we decided to honour his booking. The other passengers will be a mixture of corporate customers and celebrities."

Flight BA001 will leave New York at 7am local time on Friday and arrive in London at about lunchtime.