UNIONS across the North-East will set out their vision for the future of public services at a conference being held in County Durham today.

The Supporting Our Public Services conference, organised by the Trade Union Council, is expected to attract 150 delegates representing unions in local authorities and the health service.

Held in the main conference room at Chester-le-Street's Riverside complex, the main aim of the event is to promote cooperation between unions and the Government.

TUC regional secretary Paul Nowark said: "We believe that Government and trade unions should work together to deliver and promote public services that we can be proud of.

"This Partnership at Work approach means that ministers, employers and unions must work together to prepare a strategy and programme to deliver world-class public services."