AS Durham Tees Valley Airport prepares to celebrate the first anniversary of its much-heralded name change, confusion still reigns as to what it is called.

For up to 60 road signposts throughout the region, including several on some of the North-East's busiest roads, still bear the airport's former name - Teesside Airport.

And the debacle continued last night as airport promises that the signs will be changed within the next two months met with bewilderment from other parties involved in the negotiations.

Critics have said that outdated signs on major roads - including the A1 and A19 - could confuse strangers to the area and give a bad image of the region.

The roadsign row erupted a year ago when the airport became Durham Tees Valley, and began a major re-branding initiative.

However, officials from the airport, Highways Agency and other authorities across the region were soon at loggerheads over who would pay for the signs and how they should look.

At one stage, there was even disagreement over what the signs should say, after the Highways Agency argued tourists could be confused with signs for Durham City, although all those disagreements have since been resolved. Although airport officials say the changes are only weeks away, the situation last night seemed more unclear than ever, with signs continuing to bear the wrong name.

Richard Whitehouse, the airport's commercial manager, said agreement had been reached to amend signs on roads maintained by the Highways Agency and Darlington Borough Council.

"We are conscious that it is the first anniversary of the name change next week, and how long it has taken for this situation to be resolved," he said.

"It has been quite a long and drawn-out process, but as far as we are concerned, it is coming to a close."

However, a spokesman for the Highways Agency said the ball was in the airport's court.

"The Highways Agency is waiting for the airport's designers to submit drawings detailing changes required for the signs so that we can enter into agreement for the works to begin," he said.

Darlington council also said it was unaware any agreement had been finalised.