Elizabeth Hodgson, 21, a customer service advisor from Linthorpe, said: "The nightlife is brilliant. There is always something going on - whether you want a quiet relaxing evening or a big night on the town you can find something." Student Richard Gray 19, right, from Easington, County Durham: "The people of Teesside are really friendly and I think the university is a great place to study. "It also has a football team which is doing well at the moment, which is great." Stanley Smith, a retired shipyard worker, 83, of Nunthorpe, said: "It is as good a place as anywhere else. I like going out on the bus to the coast to places like Redcar and Marske. "I love the moors as well and places such as Great Ayton and Stokesley." Bank manager Valerie Painter, 50, of Great Broughton: "I am from Teesside and have travelled all over the world but there is no place like home. I love the countryside we have around here. "There is also a lot of work going on to improve Middlesbrough town centre." Paul Wallas, 20, a student from Hartlepool, said: "The university is excellent because of the range of courses and all the new buildings that have been built. "I also like the way money is being spent improving areas such as Linthorpe Road." Business manager Kerry Boden, 30, from Acklam: "It is the people of Teesside that make it what it is. They are down to earth and really friendly. "There is also a real feeling that the area is improving and becoming a better place to live in." Stuart Drummond, Mayor of Hartlepool, said: "Who wouldn't want to live in the Tees Valley? It has some of the most beautiful coastline and fabulous countryside. "The people are fantastic - the community spirit is second-to-none, and there's always a real buzz about the area. "When it comes to great visitor attractions, we are spoiled for choice, including Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, one of the most visited attractions in the region. "And in sport the Tees Valley is a real melting pot of outstanding talent, including the tremendously successful Hartlepool United. What a great place!" Paul Mcdermott, managing director of Thornaby-based Emotion Shoes, said: "Even though the Midlands is traditionally the UK's shoe manufacturing centre, I wouldn't want to operate anywhere else. "The cost of premises is low, the work force is loyal and I can live on the coast yet only have a 15-minute commute to work. For quality of life, it's second to none both on a business and personal level." Colin Muncie, managing director of Corus Teesside Cast Products: said: "There are so many great things about the Tees Valley, but in particular, as a result of many years spent in Sheffield, I can appreciate an area so full of industrial history. "There is such a long tradition of heavy industry in the area that has been through so many highs and lows over recent years and yet is still thriving - a true testament to the determination of the people and the region to succeed." Bob Cuffe, Tees Valley chairman of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "'I'm excited about the ambition within the Tees Valley- from the airport, the universities, the football club, the port and the regeneration projects throughout our patch, from Middlehaven to Queens Meadow. "The Tees Valley is an area that is really going places - becoming a place where our brightest talents can realise their career ambitions. "On a personal level, my top three highlights are the Boro, the outstanding views from Carlton Bank and finally, an ice cream on Redcar beach - marvellous." Bob Gibson, Stockton Council leader, said: "I have found the Tees Valley a wonderful place to live - the coast, the North York Moors, the beautiful countryside and so many picturesque villages and market towns to visit, with the larger towns and town centres giving a balanced choice for shoppers, visitors and tourists alike." Margaret Fay, chairwoman of One NorthEast, said: "The Tees Valley makes a massive contribution to North-east England's economy - providing jobs for 34,000 people and supporting a further 200,000 in supply companies." Hugh Lang, managing director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: "My wife and I have worked all over the world but we can honestly say that the Tees Valley is the most friendly place that we have lived in. The people are great, polite, friendly, hard working - but also know how to enjoy themselves. "I am always amazed when I travel around the area, to see how many beautiful villages there are. The scenery is so varied, from beaches to landscapes. All in all, a quality tourist product waiting to be discovered. "And for the energetic, there are water sports at the Tees Barrage, and also a great number of fabulous walks, such as the Teesdale Way and the Cleveland Way, linking into the North York Moors National Park." Joe Docherty chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, said: "There is something special about the Tees Valley - it literally has it all. "I can open my front door and within 20 minutes I can be enjoying the countryside, watching the tide come in at the coast, eating in a top class restaurant such as my favourite Café Lille at Norton, watching Premiership football, be shopping in some great shops or be on my way to a business meeting in London. "We have theatres, cinemas, history, arts and culture. I may be in the business of promoting the Tees Valley but it isn't a case of 'well, he would say that' - it's true." Robin Bloom, partner at Dickinson Dees law firm, said: "I can think of circa 500,000 good things about the Tees Valley namely the people who live and work here. People who work hard, play hard and do so with a sense of humour. "I am proud to come from a region that has had the self-confidence to look forward rather than back and see a bright future with real opportunities for the next generation as a result. "Obviously other features such as excellent infrastructure, leisure facilities and improving environment all feature high, as does the best football team in the North-east!" "All accessible on a road network second to none. All of that and our very own airport. Much to be proud of, much to look forward to. Don't you just love it?" Hartlepool Mp Iain Wright said: "There is one thing about the Tees Valley which stands out its people. "What I like about Tees Valley people is their character. There's a cheek and a great sense of humour which makes them the best in the world." Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Mp Ashok Kumar said: "The proximity of coastline and breathtaking natural beauty is what has always impressed me. "You can soon be at the seaside like Saltburn while the beauty of North Yorkshire is on our doorstep." Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell said: "It's close to the coast, to the Cleveland Hills and the Yorkshire dales while it has excellent communications with an international airport and national rail links. "It is also a good environment for both small businesses and major companies with the third largest port in the UK facing out to continental Europe." Pat Walker, former mayor of Middlesbrough, of Acklam, said: "The spectacular splendour that is now known as Tees Valley is best kept secret in the United Kingdom. "Visitors come, they see and they stay. Whether from the south of England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland, once you experience the special and unique multi-cultural communities which are very much part of the 21st century lifestyle throughout Tees Valley you too will want to stay." Anna Addison, Anna Addison Associates, a new PR and events company in Middlesbrough said: "It is a very exciting time for the Tees Valley with our major towns growing, new developments and investment, new tourist attractions and a constantly expanding airport making business and leisure travel around the UK and Europe quicker and easier. "As a new business in the Tees Valley I can safely say I would not have chosen anywhere else to establish my company. "I work with people all over the UK and commuting is so easy from the Tees Valley. But there is nothing better than arriving at Kings Cross station and getting back on the train home, safe in the knowledge our quality of life is ten times that of our southern counterparts." Nigel Perry chief executive of Wilton-based Centre for Process Innovation said: "The process industry is our region's biggest wealth creator - right here in the Tees Valley we have superior facilities and a quality of manpower that is unsurpassed. "CPI's vision to is to become the main innovation and resource partner for the UK process industry and elevate it on the world stage. The Tees Valley certainly has the prowess ability and drive to achieve that." Paul Addison, sports editor BBC Radio Cleveland, said: "It's wonderful to see our three football teams in the Tees Valley on the up. "Middlesbrough creating history by playing in Europe, which in turn puts the spotlight on the town in general, Hartlepool United constantly fighting for promotion in League One and Darlington showing promise for the future in League Two. "We have three great clubs in the Tees Valley - who needs Russian billionaires or American magnates?" Chey Garland chief executive, Garlands Call Centres, said: "What makes the difference in customer service? It's people - and it's Tees Valley people that have been the X Factor in my company's success. "The region has a proud history and a population that's resilient, hard working and imbued with a desire to work hard and help others. It's these qualities that so often turn ordinary service calls into memorable ones." | 
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101 Great Reasons...
Welcome to the 101 Great Reasons