SECURITY at the region's two airports will be reviewed after it was revealed that some of Britain's busiest passenger terminals are being left without police protection.

Armed guards were drafted in to patrol Newcastle Airport and Durham Tees Valley in a high-profile move following the terrorist strikes on London in July.

But some of the country's most-used terminals - including Durham Tees Valley - do not have 24-hour police cover because they are not on a priority list.

Senior security officials last night told of their worries after it was claimed the list was 40 years out of date and took no account of passenger growth.

But the Department for Transport has moved to allay the fears by saying a review of security will start next month and should be completed by Easter.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said: "Suggestions that such airports are left unguarded are not true.

"The main responsibility for security at an airport lies with the airport itself, which must implement measures laid down under legal direction by the Department for Transport.

"Policing at airports is in addition and complements these security measures. At airports which are non-designated, it is a matter for the police chief constable in consultation with the airport manager and working with airport security staff.

"The Department announced a wide-ranging independent review of policing at all airports in November - it is expected to report in the spring."

A Durham Police spokesman said: "At times of heightened security, extra patrols are put in place, and if there is any suggestion that there is a need, then armed officers are deployed, but there is no permanent 24-hour base at the airport.

"Outside of certain hours it is relatively quiet and, operationally, there is no justification for a permanent 24-hour police presence.

"The airport has its own security staff and, if there was a need for a regular police presence outside of normal hours, we could be there very quickly, but there is a business plan, which the airport is drafting for possible future expansion."

Northumbria Police refused to comment on security at Newcastle Airport, but it is claimed that it does not appear on the high- priority list, which contains only nine designated sites - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Prestwick.

Patrick Mercer, the Conservative's homeland security spokes-man, said: "This demonstrates what a sham the Government's security policy is.

"Everything we have heard so far is just 'gesture security' without any real concrete measures to defend us at our most vulnerable points of entry."

Chris Yates, an aviation security analyst for Jane's Information Group, said: "We do need to look at policing arrangements for some of these smaller airports because of the explosive growth they are having now."