THE latest move to place tourism back on track following the foot-and-mouth crisis will roll into action tomorrow when the North-East section of a national cycleway is officially opened.

The National Byway - which uses existing public highways - was founded in 1996, and will be more than 3,000 miles long when completed next year.

County Durham has about 110 miles of the 205-mile North-East route - the remainder being in Northumberland.

The entire section will be officially opened at a ceremony at Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

A number of partners have helped to ensure that the region plays a role in the development of the route, including Durham County Council and the County Durham Environmental Trust (Cdent).

Cdent has donated funding of £29,000 towards signposts and the production of a map to promote the route.

The chairman of Durham County Council, Councillor Charlie Magee, said: "The completed National Byway will pass through a staggering variety of landscapes and I am proud to say the North-East will be among the most interesting parts of the route.

"The foot-and-mouth epidemic had a severe effect on the North-East rural economy, and it is initiatives such as this which are the key to promoting the area and spreading the word about what we have to offer."

The North-East section is one of four to be launched this summer, and passes close to 50 heritage sites along the way.

Cdent director Leslie Rutherford said: "We are delighted to be supporting a sustainable project that encourages rural regeneration in County Durham."

Since Cdent was set up five years ago, it has donated nearly £6m to fund sustainable waste management projects and environmental improvement schemes in County Durham, Darlington and Sunderland through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.