THE expansion of Teesside Airport, a Tees Valley light rapid transport system, and a second River Tees crossing are all included in a new regional economic strategy.

Realising Our Potential, published this week by One North-East, said a thriving Tees Valley economy was a key element to the future success of the entire North-East.

Backed by £635m of One North-East cash over the next three years, the strategy details the work needed from Berwick to Guisborough to bring about an economic and social rebirth of the region.

The strategy highlights the need for improved transport, telecommunications and property infrastructure to aid the growth of Tees Valley.

The new strategy updates the original blueprint published when One North-East was first established in 1999.

The document was unveiled by Jonathan Blackie, regional director of Government Office for the North-East, at Baltic, Gateshead, on Monday.

Dr John Bridge, One North-East chairman, said they had listened closely to what people and businesses across Tees Valley had said.

"The talent is here in Tees Valley and the North-East and we believe this document can help unlock it and drive our region forward towards our goal of becoming a world-leading economy," he said.

More than 1,500 copies of the revised strategy were sent out on request, and a special web site set up to publicise the review registered nearly 4,000 hits, with more than 1,000 documents downloaded from it.

Alistair Arkley, chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, said: "One North-East bravely pioneered the concept of sub-regional partnerships like ours to bring real benefits to local people and businesses.

"And, of course, this gives us the ability to pull together the best people in Tees Valley to plan our own futures and call on resources from around the region to help in difficult times."

Four years ago, the region said it was looking to create an additional 30,000 jobs by 2005. The latest Labour Force Survey statistics reveal that the number of people in work in the North-East from April 1999 to the end of last year had increased by 42,000.

This equates to a 2.8pc rise in the employment rate, compared with a UK increase of 0.7pc over the same period.

The six key objectives to bring about change for the North-East remain:

* creating wealth by raising the productivity of all businesses;

* establishing a new entrepreneurial culture;

* creating a healthy labour market supported by a skilled workforce;

* recognising universities and colleges are at the heart of the economy;

* meeting Twenty-first Century transport, communication and property needs;

* the renaissance of rural and urban communities