SUPPORTERS of one of the region's airports have started a campaign for people to back it.

A new group, which has launched on the internet, is organising a flash mob event to use Teesside Airport train station on April 2.

The station is one of the most underused in the country with its passenger numbers measuring less than 100 in each of the past six years. There are only four trains which stop per week - two on Saturdays and two on Sundays.

However, protestors want to highlight its existence and promote its potential during the event.

The Teesside Airport Flash Mob group is urging people to catch the 10.28am train from the station, which still goes by the airport's former name to Middlesbrough, on April 2.

A spokesman for the group said: "In recent years the airport itself has been redeveloped and road links improved but in this age of increased rail travel, the rail links to the airport have been neglected.

"Most airports are trying to improve rail links - Leeds Bradford is planning a rail link and Manchester Airport is investing around £15 million on one new platform for its train station.

"If regular train services stopped at Teesside Airport and better links to and from the terminal were available people would use the service."

He added an improved rail link may encourage more people to fly from Durham Tees Valley Airport and more airlines to offer routes.

He added: "We're certain more people would use an improved rail link, a single fare from Middlesbrough costs £3.50. It's peanuts compared to a drive to Leeds or Newcastle or a long train journey to Manchester.

"An improved rail link would show airlines that the airport have an integrated transport policy and surly would attract them to use Teesside."