people who live, work and play on Teesside will get their chance to be heard today following the launch of the Tees Navigation Strategy earlier this month.

A series of consultations taking place at Arc, Stockton, was high on the list of the partnership involved - made up of Stockton Borough Council, British Waterways, One NorthEast and English Partnerships - to enable any schemes thrown up by the study to be heard by the local community.

Residents were invited to attend one of the drop-in sessions between 2pm and 4.30pm or 7pm and 9.30pm today and local businesses can attend tomorrow, from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Councillor Geoff Field said: "Consultation is a key element of the strategy and we want to ensure that we get the local community's input and ideas for future regeneration of the Tees corridor."

The consultations will cover most aspects of river redevelopment, including jobs, housing, leisure, sport, environment and heritage.

Alan Slater, British Waterways' river manager for the Tees, said: "First and foremost we need to know what people want to see happen on the banks of the Tees and, indeed, on the river itself.

"One of our aims is to get Teesside to reclaim the river and utilise it as fully as possible.

"I am confident that the importance of River Tees will be recognised in the consultations."