The new boss of Tyne and Wear Metro has heralded a major expansion of the network under his management.

Ken Mackay, who stepped into his post as director of the system on Tuesday, hopes to introduce 90 kilometres (56 miles) of new track over the next decade and a half.

On his first day in office he was out and about on the system meeting workers and passengers.

He takes over at a time when Metro operator Nexus is in dispute with control room staff on the system over pay.

A proposed strike has been postponed while workers are re-balloted, and Mr Mackay has said he might find himself "in the hot seat".

'Improve service'

The rejection of the latest pay and conditions offer from Nexus led to the threat of a two-day strike on the system.

The dispute is continuing, but the named days in August when industrial action was due to take place have been dropped while the new ballot is taken.

He said: "It is my style of management to get out and meet staff and members of the public, and look to improve the quality of service.

"I will also be encouraging my managers to get out onto the train. We can have a great presence on the Metro.

Mr Mackay oversaw the Sunderland extension

"I realise that feedback from Metro passengers won't all be positive and there will be brickbats as well as bouquets."

He said the system faced a lot of competition from the car as passenger numbers on the Metro slipped.

Mr Mackay said: "Our delivery of service has not been as good of late as it might have been.

"I want people to use the system, and be part of it, and through that we can help improve the market."

Mr Mackay has worked on the Metro system for the past eight years, and says he has "grown into the job".

He was responsible for the Metro extension to Sunderland, and said: "It is a great boon for Tyne and Wear, it has really put us on the map.

'New technology'

"We have a pretty extensive system, with 58 stations, and are hoping to expand over the next 10 or 15 years.

"We hope to introduce 90 kilometres of new system through the Tyne and Wear conurbation, which could include new types of technology working with the existing system."

He said he could not comment on the ongoing pay dispute with the 23 control room staff.

Mr Mackay said: "There is the chance of disruption on the Metro, with a ballot later this week, and I could find myself in the hot seat then."