SCHOOLS are not back in full swing yet, but two of the biggest kids in Barry Coppinger and Ben Houchen think they are right back in the playground.

Tory Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen kicked it off complaining how police chief Mr Coppinger’s office was recruiting to replace an assistant executive on £60,000 a year.

Labour’s Barry Coppinger hit back by saying Ben Houchen’s staff costs are ‘’staggering,’’ ballooning to a whopping £3.9m this financial year.

It is debatable which of these two Teesside characters is the worse value for money as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger is renowned for his poor crime prevention record, inadequate in all areas.

But Mr Houchen’s CV is just as woeful. You’ll need a powerful pair of binoculars to locate any of the 20,000 jobs he promised.

The highlight of the mayor’s time in office thus far doesn’t set the pulse racing. He bought a costly money-leaking airport.

Then thought he’d won the pools when he took control of a large toxic swamp for a quick quid.

And finally, he handed a South Tees Development corporation board appointment to Redcar Tory MP Jacob Young, a guy who can’t even do his own parliamentary job, let alone take on another one.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.