THE Chancellor Philip Hammond has been in the North-East today as the Conservative election campaign hots up.

With voting just a few weeks away, Mr Hammond visited Durham University, Ebac in Newton Aycliffe and Subsea Innovation in Darlington.

The Northern Echo was invited to meet him as he was given a tour of his final stop-off on the town's Faverdale Industrial Estate.

Business editor Steven Hugill asked him about the economy, business confidence, Brexit and the Conservative's election strategy for the North-East.

The Northern Echo:

Chancellor Phillip Hammond arrives at Subsea Innovation in Darlington and is greeted by Financial Director Phil Heathcock, left, MD, Dave Thompson and local Conservative candidate Peter Cuthbertson, right.  Picture: Stuart Boulton.