NEARLY a year after a North-East airport changed its name, road signs across the region still bear its former title.

Although Teesside Airport became Durham Tees Valley Airport in September last year, 60 road signs on some of the North-East's major roads have yet to be changed.

The airport and Highways Agency have been locked in dispute for several months over a catalogue of technicalities, at one stage even disagreeing over the wording on the signs, as the Highways Agency said motorists could become confused with signposts for Durham City.

Although that row was resolved, a solution has still not been reached - and officials last night said the signs would not be changed for the forseeable future.

Signposts on major routes, including the A1 and A66, still point to Teesside Airport, which critics say could confuse tourists.

Last night, officials from both sides said they were eager to sort out the problem.

Richard Whitehouse, commercial manager of Durham Tees Valley Airport - which is funding the signs - said negotiations were continuing.

"We were looking to resolve things by the end of August but that now looks a bit ambitious.

"The process has taken longer than either us or the Highways Agency imagined. It is a complex process due to the number of signs involved.

"It is frustrating, but dialogue is continuing, and we hope to resolve it as soon as possible."

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "We have a schedule of work from the party who is paying - in this case the airport - so we have to negotiate closely.

"We are currently waiting for drawings from airport designers about the location of the signs and what they will say."

Darlington Borough Councillor David Lyonette, who is also on the airport consultative committee, said it was important the dispute was resolved.

"I think it's about time it was done, I thought they had come to some agreement," he said. "It could be confusing for people new to the region, so the sooner it is sorted out, the better."