DURHAM Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) has confirmed that Andy Foulds, commercial director has left the business to pursue new opportunities.

At the time of his appointment two years ago Mr Foulds described DTVA as a success story waiting to happen. Mr Foulds joined the airport from the Port of Tyne Authority, where he had been commercial director for two years

The airport is now seeking to appoint a business development director.

The new recruit will work alongside its recently appointed partnership and communications executive James Grant in building on the progress made over the past two years, taking forward the new business model for the airport and implementing the proposals within the master plan, airport bosses said.

Following public consultation the airport published the final version of a plan which it claimed can create up to 3,800 permanent jobs and support 450 during construction phases.

Between 250 and 400 homes are proposed for the site, with the sale of land for housing paying for other developments, including offices and warehousing.

The plan for housing angered residents of nearby Middleton St George, who said local services would not cope with more users.

The most recent figures for the year to the end of June showed a like-for-like increase in passenger numbers of four per cent from

135,366 to 140,922.