THE Tees Valley's most senior businessman is calling for his part of the North-East to unite with a strong voice so that it does not get overlooked within a Geordie Parliament.

Alistair Arkley, the chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, was reacting to last week's news that the Government will hold a referendum on regional government next year.

On Friday, a campaign urging people to vote "yes" in the referendum was launched.

Mr Arkley said: "The campaigners for a 'yes' vote need to learn from the approach taken by the regional development agency to ensure that all parts of the North-East have felt involved and empowered by devolving real power and resources to sub-regions such as the Tees Valley.

"That has helped to reduce the natural suspicion of Newcastle 'domination' of regionwide bodies."

One of the major concerns about regional government is that any assembly could be dominated by Newcastle, which has a bigger population and plenty of politicians speaking up for it, whereas the south of the region has yet to develop its own voice.

Mr Arkley also said that the Tees Valley - a "sub-region" of the North-East which includes Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar - had a duty to ensure that it did not allow itself to be overlooked.

He said: "There is a responsibility on the sub-regions to make sure that we are clear about what we want from a regional assembly and that we ensure that we have a united voice in the corridors of power."