Council officials are hoping an as yet unidentified firm will take over an industrial unit in an unemployment blackspot and create much-needed jobs.

South Tyneside Council says the firm is planning to move on to the site of the warehouse at Hebburn run by the outdoor clothing manufacturer Barbour.

Barbour is moving its operations to a site at the Simonside Industrial Estate, South Shields.

Council officials are confident that the firm is close to signing a deal to take over the vacated Hebburn building