A FORUM is to be set up in East Cleveland to help develop the area as a tourism destination.

A report into tourism in the area has recently been published following years of work by John Jewitt of the Tees Valley Rural Community Council, who died last year.

It aims to provide a launch pad to develop the area as a new tourism destination serving a variety of niche markets including walkers, riders, cyclists, golfers and even extreme sports enthusiasts.

The report suggests tourism can be developed by increasing the number of registered Bed and Breakfast places as well as developing more tourist information centres, better signposting, a better image for the area and an effective website.

It recommends that a forum be set up to bring together interested parties from the community, voluntary, business and statutory sectors to contribute to a new tourism strategy.

The strategy will also look at ways to combat dirt, litter, vandalism and anti-social behaviour, as well as develop an integrated transport system for the whole of the area.

Coun Eric Jackson, new mayor for Redcar and Cleveland, intends to use his civic year to promote tourism in the area and is delighted with the report's findings.

"East Cleveland is an untapped market. I welcome this initiative and look forward to working to develop it," he said. "This is an area of contrasts. We have the cliffs and five minutes later you can be on the moors. How many other areas have that? The area is steeped in history, with a lot to offer."

A meeting will take place in six months time to see how much progress has been made on the report's recommendations.