THE mystery suitor hoping to be the next owner of Teesport will keep fighting for the chance to bring 7,000 jobs to the region, it was claimed last night.

Teesport owner PD Ports is the subject of a takeover approach, which is believed to be by Australia's Macquarie Bank.

PD is in talks with the bidder and a further announcement is expected in a few weeks.

Yesterday, PD's group development director Martyn Pellew showed council leaders and chief executives around the port.

The Association of North East Councils (ANEC) has pledged support for Teesport's plans to build a deep-sea container terminal, which would bring in goods direct from the Far East rather than to overheated southern ports, helping to take millions of lorry miles off the road.

Mr Pellew told ANEC representatives yesterday: "We have had an initial bid approach and that is ongoing. I can't say anything else because of stock exchange rules. We are in a position that the port might change hands again in the near future.

"Whoever wants to buy us has bought into the story of what we are trying to do here, of trying to create a deep-sea container terminal."

He thanked ANEC, which represents the region's 25 councils, for its support.

ANEC chairman Mick Henry said: "We want to see a national ports strategy and balanced expansion across the UK ports. This would benefit the whole region in terms of the economy."