The regional development agency One NorthEast says the NTB no longer serves the best interests of north-east England's tourism industry.

The NTB has been in existence for more than 30 years, and is made up of tourism businesses in the North East, from County Durham up to the Scottish Borders.

Since April 2003, development agencies have been told to take a greater responsibility for regional tourism.

A campaign website has been set up in protest at the likely demise of the NTB.

Called Save Northumbria Tourist Board, it has been created by tourism businesses which are members of the not-for-profit NTB.

A spokesman for the campaign said: "We have been set up by small businesses in the North East, alarmed at proposals to scrap the NTB and substitute some half-baked scheme run through the regional development agency ONE NorthEast.

Tourist season

"The campaign aims to get One NorthEast to recognise that there exists a cluster of some 1,500 business in our region which believe it is the ideal delivery method for tourism initiatives.

"Many of us depend on the bookings scheme run by NTB and the interference of One NorthEast in areas that they scarcely understand will damage our businesses, possibly fatally.

"We call upon One NorthEast to resolve this matter with NTB before the start of the 2004 tourist season, and will do all we can to persuade them to do so."

Alan Clarke, chief executive of One NorthEast, said: "We have been talking to NTB for over a year, but we haven't been able to come to a clear way forward, so we felt we had to make this decision for the interests of tourism in the region.

"Tourism is very important to the region and we are going to invest �60m in it."

In a statement, Durham County Council, which is accountable for NTB, said: "The county council - as the board's adviser and treasurer - has a duty to protect its members.

"The council has therefore suggested that a working party be set up as quickly as possible comprising members of One NorthEast, the tourist board and the county council, to manage an orderly wind-down of the board and its finances."