DURHAM Tees Valley Airport has rejected a passenger's claims that users are now faced with a total lack of facilities - despite paying a £6 airport levy.

Oil and gas industry consultant Les Fawcett described the airport as the most ill-equipped he had ever visited.

Mr Fawcett passed through the airport last Monday (January 19) to catch a flight to Schiphol Amsterdam.

After noticing that part of the airport car park was being used to store caravans, he entered the terminal building to find that the restaurant he had visited previously had now closed down.

Two service desks and the foreign currency counter had also shut, he added.

"I proceeded to check in my luggage and buy the £6 airport voucher which is obligatory to be able to proceed through security.

"Once airside I noticed that the area that previously hosted a small bar serving sandwiches, drinks tea and coffee etc had been closed down and would be no longer available - the only coffee dispensing machine was also out of use.

"When I enquired about the duty free facility I was informed that had also closed."

Mr Fawcett said the WH Smith shop was open, however when his flight was called the store's shutters came down.

Mr Fawcett, from Aycliffe Village, County Durham, said: "My concern relates to the total lack of facilities and the few that remain are being closed down - just what is the £6 levy actually for?

"This is really a very sad state and surely it is the most ill-equipped airport I have ever travelled from."

But the airport said it was surprised at some of Mr Fawcett's comments.

A spokesman added: "The use of part of the car park for caravan storage is not new—it has been in place since 2013 and in fact the revenue generated has enabled us to reconfigure the parking layout, providing close proximity to the terminal, reducing charges generally and introducing three hours of free parking.

"The previous bar and café in the main terminal were not economically viable but we are exploring options for developing new services in this part of the terminal. In fact we have recently begun work on creating a more modern and comfortable terminal building, investing in new KLM self-check-in desks and vending facilities."

The airport said it had also recently opened the new Swissport café in departures which offered fresh food and drinks, with comfortable seating, Sky TV and free wi-fi.

"We are continuing to work on improving the experience for customers including continuing improvements and new branding within the terminal," the spokesman added.