WHEN the story first emerged about Excelsis Airways’ plans to establish a new link between Durham Tees Valley Airport and London, we welcomed the announcement as potentially an exciting boost for the area.

It had been a huge blow to the airport in February when it lost its routes to the capital due to bmi pulling out.

Local businesses desperately need the link to be restored in order for the Tees Valley to maximise its undoubted economic potential.

When Excelsis Airways came along, there was hope amid the gloom surrounding the airport.

Sadly, it later became our duty to question the validity of the plans, which appeared to have no financial substance behind them, despite a team of executives being put in place by self-styled entrepreneur Victor Bassey.

Last week, those fears were realised when it was announced that his team of employees had resigned en masse and reported him to police for alleged fraud, saying their wages had not been paid despite repeated promises.

The results of our further investigation into his business affairs are published today – and they make disturbing reading.

We have discovered that Mr Bassey has run up debts, misled people, and generally left a trail of misery after setting up a string of companies which have come to nothing.

It seems to us that it is high time the activities of Victor Bassey were placed under the spotlight by the authorities.