A CONSERVATIVE candidate has called for a geological survey of former mines to be carried out to find potential gas supplies.

Edward Legard, who is fighting the Darlington seat, said the surveys of mines on Teesside could create jobs for local employers such as Amec.

Mr Legard was with shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change Greg Clark at Amec’s industrial headquarters, in Darlington.

Amec, a project management and engineering company, employs 900 people in the town and 2,500 in the region.

Mr Legard said: “I, along with other candidates on Teesside, would like to see a geological survey carried out in the Tees estuary to consider the view of gas storage plants.

“It would bring jobs to the Tees Valley. Here in Darlington we would supply the expertise.”

Mr Clark was born in Middlesbrough and is also shadow minister for Teesside, although he serves as MP for Tunbridge Wells, in Kent.

He warned that the country faces its first black-outs since the Seventies by 2016 or 2017 unless more capacity is created either through new nuclear power stations or extending the life of current stations.

He added: “We have to pull out all the stops to create more electricity capacity. The opportunity is hugely important for this region.”

Garry Dryburgh, vice-president from Amec, said a new government would have to help such firms to build power stations and other sources of energy through planning regulations.

He added: “We also need help extending the life of some plants to make sure that the lights don’t go out.”

Mr Clark praised the work of the different training programmes in the North-East as well as partnerships such as one between Amec and Darlington College.

He said that he wanted more children to think of careers in engineering.