A VITAL strategy to promote tourism across the region is facing a five-month delay, it was revealed today.

Regional Development Agency One NorthEast (ONE) wrote to small businesses in January, promising it would have a strategy in place by April.But agency bosses last night admitted that the final document will not now be ready until October.

Tourism brings in £1.6 billion a year to the region and guesthouse owners fear a lack of progress by ONE could result in a drop in bookings for next year, which would have a major impact on the North-East economy.

They came together yesterday in Sunderland to highlight their lack of confidence in ONE and to call for action.

Teesdale businessman Hugh Becker said: "With tourism, you are planning and taking action now for a year ahead. One NorthEast don't seem to have grasped this."

Kate MacNaught, One NorthEast's interim tourism manager, put the delay in providing a tourism strategy down to a major 12-week consultation exercise, due to start at the end of this month.

The agency took over all responsibility for tourism in the North-East on on April 1, when it absorbed the now-defunct Northumbria Tourist Board (NTB).

It has promised half the seats on a new regional tourism forum would be given to North-East businesses.

But former NTB members are concerned that ONE is too focused on big projects and is not interested in what small businesses have to contribute.

Yesterday they launched the "Save Northumbria" campaign, to press home their case.

Judith Stephenson runs Bradley Burn Farm in Wolsingham, County Durham, and is regional director of Farmstay UK, which represents farms that provide guest accommodation.

She said: "Members have previously relied on NTB to guide visitors to the area.

"Once people are attracted to the area, we can do our own work. We are not expecting to be spoon-fed, but we need help."

Ms MacNaught said: "The views of tourism businesses, of every size, are important."

She insisted that the takeover of NTB was already a success, with bookings up after a £260,000 national marketing campaign. The campaign sparked controversy by omitting Sunderalnd entirely from its brochure.

The agency is planning a cycling guide and promotional campaign in partnership with cycling charity Sustrans, due to launch next month. And it has already earmarked £4.3million to spend on tourism projects this year.