ONE of the North-East'S biggest buildings was bathed in light last night as part of a £50,000 arts project.

The 18-storey glass-fronted Centre North East office block, in the middle of Middlesbrough, has only two tenants.

But the 220ft high building was lit up last night in what organisers said was one of the most exciting and innovative public art projects in the region, and a dramatic addition to the Teesside skyline.

The cost of the project is being met through a mixture of public and private money.

The man responsible for the light show, artist Ron Haselden, joined Middlesbrough Borough Council speaker Councillor Ken Hall and guests for last night's launch.

At the height of the craze for multi-storey office blocks, Centre North East was originally known as Corporation House.

It opened in 1972, replacing a row of terraced houses, and was home to the regional headquarters of British Telecom and the North-East Government offices.

However, both BT and the Government moved out, transferring to Newcastle.

In 1993, part of the town centre had to be cordoned off when 80mph winds brought steel plates and girders off the roof.