PASSENGERS flying from North-East airports are being warned of delays as security checks were stepped up in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Both Teesside and Newcastle Airport were on maximum alert with US-UK flights continuing to be grounded.

Passengers at Teesside were undergoing both physical and electronic checks as they passed through to the departure lounge area with further checks at boarding gates.

The airport also had in use its recently introduced photographic scanning system which identifies passengers and links them to individual boarding cards.

The regular six cross-Atlantic flights per day which would fly via Amsterdam and Heathrow were not operating and passengers affected advised to contact their airline for further information.

Airport managing director Hugh Lang said: "We have brought in extra staff to help minimise expected delays which the added security procedures will cause. "We are sure that our passengers will appreciate and fully support the need for utmost vigilance which is in their own interests.

"The tragic happenings in the United States have underlined the importance of using every possible measure to protect against terrorist attacks and passengers flying from Teesside can be reassured."

A knock-on effect was expected on European flights - which are operating as normal - as a result of all US airports being closed.

A Teesside Airport spokesman added that scheduled services were only allowing one piece of hand luggage on board.

No hand luggage was being allowed on chartered services except medicines and valuables.

At Newcastle airport the 11am flight to Florida was cancelled and today's Air 2000 1330 flight to the same destination was not expected to fly. Anyone on the flight was being asked to call (08707) 567567.

Newcastle Airport spokeswoman Dionne Martens said that passengers on unaffected flights should arrive at check-in 30 minutes in advance.

Additional searches of passengers and extra patrols of the airport buildings were also taking place, she said.

She added: "We are monitoring the situation and are advising passengers to contact their tour operator if they need more information.

"We are also co-operating fully with the direction to all UK airports to enhance security measures."