OPTIMISM was hard to find yesterday as the nation picked the bones of a Budget bogged down by the worst recession since the Second World War.

But Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s public recognition of Teesside as an ideal location to pioneer a multibillion pound industry, based on environmentally- friendly, coal-fired power stations, is clearly something for the region to be extremely positive about.

With its thriving process cluster, Teesside has been a beacon amid the economic gloom for some time. Now it has an opportunity which must not be underestimated.

It does not require particular expertise to see Teesside’s advantages.

It has available land. It is close to the coast, a developing port and the North Sea oilfields. And it has an adaptable, reliable and experienced workforce with all the required skills.

Fresh from being kicked in the teeth over the loss of the lucrative Sea Dragon contract to Singapore, Teesside finds itself at the forefront of plans which would create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs and create wealth a long way into the future.

The fact that the area would also be playing a key part in Britain’s plans to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 makes the prize even more enticing.

The North-East is used to leading the world: with railways, shipbuilding, steelmaking and coal minining. It has an industrial heritage of which we should forever be proud.

Now the region has the opportunity to lead the world in an exciting new industry. It is an opportunity so important that the whole region must come together to ensure that it is not allowed to slip by.