MAYOR Ray Mallon is expected to be announced shortly as a board member of regional development agency One NorthEast.

The former Cleveland Police officer - once dubbed Robocop for his no-nonsense views - will be named as a member of the organisation by the Department of Trade and Industry in a statement sometime later this week, The Northern Echo understands.

The Middlesbrough mayor was a fierce campaigner for a regional assembly in the North-East.

There are currently 15 board members of One NorthEast, who are appointed by the Secretary of State. They include representatives from local authorities, the voluntary sector, trade unions and the private sector.

Among the board members are John Cuthbert, managing director of Northumbrian Water, Geoff Hodgson, chief executive of Federation Brewery and Barbara Dennis OBE, chief executive of charity Norcare.

The agency is chaired by former Tyne Tees managing director Margaret Fay OBE.

A source told The Northern Echo Mr Mallon would be unveiled as a board member today but last night Government officials remained tight-lipped about any announcement.

A spokesman for Government News Network North-East said he could not confirm when or if an announcement was to be made.

Board members are expected to carry out two days' work per month, with the chairwoman contracted for two days a week and the deputy chairman for one day a week.

Mr Mallon has been a prominent figure in the North-East for a number of years.

During his years with Cleveland Police, he was dubbed Robocop for his zero-tolerance approach to criminals. In the mid-1990s, he was suspended from duty during the Operation Lancet anti-corruption inquiry.

He left the force and returned to the public eye when he became the directly-elected mayor of Middlesbrough.

Mr Mallon was responsible for bringing His Excellency Mohamed Ali Alabbar to the North-East to discuss plans for major investment in Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley.

He arranged for the economic development minister and head of Emaar Properties to meet Tony Blair at the Prime Minister's County Durham home to talk about possible proposals.

In recent months, Mr Mallon joined the Yes4the North-East campaign, supporting calls for a regional assembly.