THE man leading a regeneration plan for Teesside said he expects to see results before the end of the year.

This year sees the half-way mark of a scheme to create or safeguard 2,500 jobs for the area, create or attract 2,500 new businesses and create 7,500 training places.

The predictions are being made by Alistair Arkley, chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, the joint public, private and voluntary sector group whose blueprint for recovery is being backed by £50m from the regional development agency One NorthEast.

Mr Arkley said: "I believe that during the next 12 months we shall see many of the projects included in the delivery plan start to deliver real results.

"We need that to happen to show that the confidence which the Government, and agencies such as One NorthEast, have placed in local people to deliver local answers and solutions is the right approach.''

Communities in the Tees Valley working together, must also play a full part in strengthening the position of the North-East, while this must not be allowed to be a one way street, Mr Arkley said in a New Year forecast.

"If we are seen as a constructive player within the region, we have the right to expect our partners in the North-East to show similar support in areas of key interest for the Tees Valley - for instance in the strengthening of our role as a world class centre for chemical industry innovation and research,'' he said.