First day back in the office for Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen
The Conservative was the only non-Labour winner of the Mayoral elections
It's the first day back in the office for the Tees Valley Mayor.
Ben Houchen is starting his third term in the role and says there is a long way to to keep levelling the region up.
"Double down on what we have been doing for seven years," Mr Houchen said.
"More investment, more jobs, strengthen the economy and increasing wages. Our region is an area that historically has low level service sector, low wage economy and we are starting to change that.
"We haven't completed changed it but we are seeing a transition and we are seeing positivity."