29 July 2010 Last updated at 05:28 ET

Transport hub opens in time for Hartlepool Tall Ships

Thousands of visitors to the Tall Ships Races in Hartlepool will be among the first to use a £4m transport interchange.

It is hoped the facility will make public transport more attractive to travellers by bringing together rail, coach, bus and taxi services.

The interchange is next to the railway station and is being opened in time for the Tall Ships event.

Up to one million visitors are expected to visit between 7 and 10 August.

Transport bosses said the interchange will improve travel for people in the town and it is hoped it will improve economic development and regeneration.

Network Rail route director Richard Lungmuss said: "The development of this transport interchange and the improvement works to the town's railway station are great news for Hartlepool.

"We now have facilities that we can be proud of and we will be able to showcase these to the hundreds-of-thousands of visitors who will visit the Tall Ships event."