MORE than two years after an airport's name changed, the road signs have finally been updated.

Teesside Airport changed its name to Durham Tees Valley Airport on September 21, 2004, after airlines suggested rebranding would attract more customers.

Since then, the road signs have continued to direct passengers to "Teesside Airport".

Now, work has begun on signs near the airport, which are managed by local authorities, and will be completed by the end of the month.

Signs on the A66 and A1(M), which are managed by the Highways Agency, are expected to be updated by the end of next month.

About 140 signs will be changed, with the airport meeting the estimated £250,000 cost.

In September, it was revealed the airport had asked development agency One NorthEast for funding, but was rejected. Airport bosses then said signs would be complete by the end of last year.

However, airport managing director Hugh Lang said detailed discussions had been needed.

He said: "There are specific requirements relating to the design, wording and positioning of road signs which did involve detailed discussions with a number of agencies, particularly the Highways Agency.

"Having reached a satisfactory agreement, it was then necessary to draw up a coordinated programme for changing around 140 signs in total.

"We agreed that routes to the airport at key points on major roads would be indicated by signs carrying the wording 'D'hm Tees Valley' and an aircraft symbol. Local authorities in the area have adopted a similar approach.

"The work has now been under way for some time and good progress is being made."

The Highways Agency said contractors had not started work on its signs yet, but were expected to soon.

In 2004, when the name change was announced, the airport hoped public money would help pay for the sign changes. However, local politicians reacted angrily. Stockton South Labour MP Dari Taylor said: "This is essentially a privately owned airport with some local authority input.

"If they think this is so important, why don't they pay for it themselves?"

The airport's train station -served by one train a week from Darlington -is still known as Teesside Airport.