A councillor is renewing his appeal for a Minister for the North to look after the area's interests.

Councillor Stephen Smailes, leader of Stockton Borough Council's Conservative group, believes only a designated politician can adequately give the region a voice at Westminster.

He plans to write to Prime Minister Tony Blair to call for an immediate appointment to be made.

He said: "There are high unemployment blackspots in the region and a lack of investment on our roads, such as the A66. Also, in order for Teesside to prosper, we need another river crossing. None of these improvements were in the Government's spending review, so we need our own Minister to ensure that they are carried out."

Coun Smailes, who also called for a Minister for the North after the Mr Blair was criticised for ignoring the regions in May, said the area's current representatives were inadequate.

"I don't believe that One NorthEast, the regional development agency, is doing its job. It concentrates on the North-East and those of us in Teesside and Durham miss out. I intend to write to Tony Blair again to give him details of the North-South divide and to quote what we need," he said.

A Government spokesman said: "There are currently no plans for a Minister for the North.