EXPERTS planning to brief business leaders on how to meet a terrorist attack were left disappointed at the low turnout.

Seats in which members of Teesside's retail and commercial sector were expected to have been sitting up and taking notice, were empty.

An estimated 60 business managers were to attend a three-hour "multi media simulation of a terrorist bombing, linked with questions and dilemmas'' in Middlesbrough.

But less than a third of that number turned up, and several of those were street wardens and security guards.

Next month will be the second anniversary of the terrorist bombings in London, which killed 52 and injured 700.

Yesterday's briefing was part of a national awareness campaign, codenamed Project Argus, developed by the MI5-based National Counter Terrorism Security Office and running in more than 200 cities and towns.

Superintendent Steve Swales, Middlesbrough's district commander, who opened yesterday's event said his welcome was "tinged with a little bit of sadness'' at the absence of the 35 to 40 people who were expected to have joined the fewer than 20 who turned up at the Thistle Hotel.

"It's a massive opportunity missed by the rest of the sector,'' he told his small audience. "What I am hoping is what you pick up today will inspire you to talk to the people in the shop next door, talk to the business links you have and that when we run another of these, let us make sure this room is filled. There is a massive opportunity here to learn something new.''

A spokeswoman for the organisers blamed a succession of "hiccups'' including the timing of the event with the demise of the Middlesbrough Town Centre Company, which organised the event, and technical problems hitting office telephones and faxes.

"I am totally confident when we do have a next one, there will be a lot more people there,'' she said.

"I think those people who were there today learned so much, they are going to go back and tell others to get themselves to the next one.''

Supt Swales told his audience: "We are not doing this because of specific intelligence that Middlesbrough is a target. We are no more a target than anywhere else.

"But, from the media, you must know the threat from international terrorism is high. In Government-speak it is a severe threat.''