AN engineer from the North-East who is spearheading the raising of the giant Russian submarine Kursk is expected to start the gruelling task tomorrow.

A crew of 118 were killed when the 10,000 tonne Kursk exploded and plunged to the bottom of the sea a year ago, while carrying out a naval exercise.

Malcolm Dailey, who is on a diving support boat on the Barents sea, has been held back by the rough Arctic seas since Monday but his wife Maureen said last night that the mission should start tomorrow, if the seas are calmer.

Divers - including many Britons - have already attached some cables to the nuclear submarine to hoist it 356 feet to the surface.

The work has been delayed by a storm which has been blowing for eight days.

Part of the huge mission is to ensure the twin nuclear reactors on the sub are made safe and to solve the mystery of its sinking.

Speaking from her home in Norton, Stockton tonight, Mrs Dailey said that she had not heard from her husband, the project manager on the mission, and was eagerly waiting for news.

She is hoping he will be back by next Saturday, October 13, in time to say goodbye to their daughter before she flies to America.

But she said: "It all depends on the weather. I have heard that he has been held up by weather but they are expecting him to start tomorrow.

"They have a satellite link up on the boat so hopefully he will be able to call me once he has time."

Mr Dailey is co-ordinating a team of divers who will attach cables to a barge to lift the sub. The remains of the submariners and 22 cruise missiles are still on board.