A Teesside mayor and mayoress are preparing for the civic event of the year - and it could turn into a kissing marathon.

Councillor Arthur Dobson, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, and his wife Iris are determined to show their appreciation for people who buy tickets for the mayor's charity Valentine dinner, to be held at the Regency Hotel, Redcar, on Saturday, February 17.

In the true spirit of the romantic season, they have agreed a civic welcome with a difference, with Coun Dobson pledging a peck for all female guests and Mrs Dobson promising to pucker up for the men.

The charities to benefit from the evening are the Ann Charlton Lodge for Multiple Sclerosis, in Redcar, and the Specialist Oncology Fund Teesside.

Coun Dobson said: "I'm not sure if people will think this is an incentive to come along or not. But we want to show our gratitude, so why not give everyone a kiss.

"I believe it is going to be a very good function, and I hope to make an awful lot of money for the two charities I am supporting."

Mrs Dobson said her husband was a romantic who proposed to her three years ago over her garden fence as she mowed the lawn.

She said: "He's a very thoughtful man, but I don't know if he's thought too much about this idea. If we get a sell-out, it could turn into a kissing marathon."

Tickets for the event cost £15 and include a three-course dinner, dancing to the Dean Soloman Band, a disco, tombola and raffle. Further details are available from Eston Town Hall, on (01642) 444501.