GLOBAL warming may change the entire face of the North-East in coming years unless the authorities act now, delegates to a major climate change conference were told yesterday.

Significant stretches of land could be submerged by rising seas, more cliffs could crumble, wildlife species come under threat and last November's catastrophic floods be repeated unless action is taken to curb climatic change.

More than 100 key figures met at County Hall in Durham City yesterday for the region's first conference about the impact of changing weather patterns.

The main findings were drawn together in a document which will eventually form the blueprint for a major study of climate

David Miller, head of Durham County Council's environment and resources service, said: "There are potentially massive changes here in the North-East, and we have to start thinking and planning now about what we can do and how we can set about doing it.

"If we don't act now, the irregular events which have affected several communities recently will become frequent ones, with devastating effects.

"It is important that we build our understanding of what is happening and decide what we are going to do to buy ourselves some time."

Global warming, caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, has increased in recent years and is beginning to alter our climate.

The severe flooding earlier this year is just one example of the way the region is being affected by changing weather patterns.

Godfrey Williams, of the Environment Agency, said: "We are already seeing some of the effects and we can expect these to increase in the next 50 to 100 years.

"Climate change is going to have a huge impact on all aspects of life in this region."

Experts are predicting hotter summers, increased rainfall and freak weather conditions across the country.

Sea levels are rising 4mm a year, and although the North-East is not in as much danger as areas further south, all of its estuaries and low lying coastal areas are at risk from tidal flooding and erosion.

Temperature changes could wipe out some of the region's unique wildlife, particularly species which thrive in conditions found only in Teesdale and the North Pennines.

There will also be knock-on effects on agriculture, health and the water supply.

Mr Miller said: "The conference has brought together a large number of different opinions from around the regions and we have agreed some ways forward

"Many of them are urgent, such as dealing with flooding, but others are longer term.

"The most important thing is getting the public to understand that we have to change and do things differently if we are to thrive in the future."