Voters will go to the polls on 2 May to elect the Tees Valley Mayor
The three candidates answered questions from people across the Tees Valley area in a BBC debate
Three candidates are standing - Conservative Ben Houchen, Labour's Chris McEwan and Liberal Democrat Simon Thorley
The mayor represents 670,000 people in five local authorities
The mayor focuses on areas such as economic development, transport and skills
That is the end of our live coverage of today's debate between the three candidates hoping to become Tees Valley Mayor.
You can watch the debate at 22:40 BST tonight on BBC One.
And you can see the debate as it went out live earlier this morning by clicking on the link below.
Luke Walton
Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria
Election-watchers expect the contest to be close. So if today’s fractious debate moves only a few hundred votes one way or the other – it could prove important.
So who ended the exchange ahead? Hard to say.
The Conservative incumbent Ben Houchen certainly finished the hour in dominant style – repeating his challenge to Labour over the airport.
But Labour’s Chris McEwan and Liberal Democrat Simon Thorley were on the front-foot earlier – whether articulating concerns about value for taxpayers' money at Teesworks, or questioning Lord Houchen’s record on local high streets.
All in all, this slugfest didn’t deliver a clear winner. But it may have changed at least a few minds.
Tell your friends. It’s worth a watch.
The debate is now over but you can watch it again on BBC iPlayer and on BBC One at 22:40 tonight.
Here are some pictures from the day.
Ben Houchen said more jobs had to be created to keep young people in the area, and foundations were "in place" but the issue could not be solved "overnight".
Chris McEwan said there should be skills support reviews at key stages of people's lives, with more certainty for providers.
Simon Thorley said the Liberal Democrats would introduce "individual learning grounds", so adults could apply for funding from the combined authority to study what they wanted.
Image source, PA Media
Our eighth and final question comes from Junior Masandi, a marketing apprenticeship mentor from Middlesbrough.
He says: "I work with a lot of amazing young people, teaching apprenticeships and mentoring them.
"Even though they are talented, I find that many of them don’t know what the future will hold for them.
"They are looking for ways to improve their CVs – what will you be doing to support the future prospects of these amazing young people?"
Image source, Getty ImagesHow to fix poverty is a big issue for the candidates.
Chris McEwan said a "route to resolving" the issue was to "create better paid jobs" and there needed to be a culture of collaboration between the mayor, local councils, NHS and charities.
Simon Thorley said he was the only candidate with a "concrete" proposal, namely the creation of an annual £25m fund to "directly target child poverty and early years support through specific interventions" although he admitted that would mean less funding for other mayoral projects.
Ben Houchen said the cause of poverty was a "weak economy and unemployment" and he had been focused on rectifying that since his election in 2017.
He said Teesside had been "failed" by the government for "50 or 60 years" and it would not be a speedy fix, but there were now "green shoots".
Pat McBride from the Cause Foundation Charity in Middlesbrough has our seventh question.
She says: "We provide food at Christmas and holidays, we provide beds and bedding for families in poverty in this area.
"We’ve seen demand on our services increase two-fold in the last twelve months.
"What are you going to do to reduce the levels of family poverty in the Tees Valley area?"
Ben Houchen said the mayor had limited powers on this matter and added die-offs of sea creatures had happened 11 months before any work had started.
Chris McEwan said he would ask for another independent inquiry into the die-offs and would speak to local fishermen.
Simon Thorley said the Liberal Democrats would turn water companies into "public benefit corporations" to tackle the sewage crisis.
Image source, Google
Image source, Getty ImagesOur sixth question comes from Geoff Lilley, a member of Seaton Carew Brass Monkeys Open Water Swimmers.
He says: "We swim every day of the year, we know the beneficial effects for our health, social lives, the whole thing.
"However, one of our main concerns is the water quality along the whole of the Tees Valley coast line.
"What are you going to do to improve the water quality in our coasts and rivers?"
Luke Walton
Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria
The fate of the high street is likely to be a key issue in the Tees mayoral contest.
In communities, including Redcar and Guisborough, plans are afoot to improve and reshape town centres, backed by tens of millions from government regeneration pots.
But in parts of the Tees Valley, a number of local department stores and shops like Marks and Spencer have closed in recent years. That’s left shoppers frustrated.
Many say beautifying town centres won’t compensate for the departure of much-loved high street names.
The fifth question is all about how to revive struggling high streets.
Simon Thorley said there needed to be a "bottom up" and "sustainable" solution as there had been "fundamental shifts" in how people shopped and used town centres.
He said the mayor could "pick and choose" projects to support but there needed to be a long-term response with collaboration through local people, businesses, authorities and the government.
Ben Houchen said his authority had invested millions of pounds in Loftus, Guisborough and Middlesbrough with more projects planned.
He said Teesside had been "neglected" by government for half a decade and it would take time to reverse the decline, but he had started by bringing in jobs - such as 800 treasury department jobs in Darlington - which would "drip through" into supporting local businesses.
Chris McEwan said the solutions were "complex" but would include introducing free parking, better buses as the current system was busted" and CCTV to make the night-time economy environment safer.
There also needed to be investment in local businesses as the future of high streets depended on "independent businesses", Mr McEwan said.
Wendy Paylor and Eleanor Christon of Silver Sixpence Curvy Bridal Boutique in Loftus have the fifth question for the candidates.
They say: "We are based in what was a derelict bank that has been brought back to life by Redcar and Cleveland Council.
"The high street is incredibly important to us, we want to know what your plans are to bring it back to life?"
Image source, GoogleIn response to question four, Chris McEwan said the coast needed to be promoted more.
"We need to be working more with independent businesses, because it's not just about the industry," he said.
But Simon Thorley said Tees Valley was not well-known nationally or internationally as a destination and added a "more coherent brand" was needed to celebrate the region's industrial heritage.
Ben Houchen said leveraging on industrial heritage was important, with an "internal offering" needed for people in Teesside.
Our fourth question comes from Lorna Jackson, of Real Meals Café and Deli in Saltburn.
She says: "Teesside is known as the industrial part of the north, yet we have lovely, long sandy beaches and great independent retailers.
"I want to know how you are going to use your mayoral money pot and connections, to change the image of the Tees Valley?"
Helen Richardson
Political reporter, BBC North East and Cumbria
We are getting a lot of comments - thank you very much for getting in touch.
Among them are comments about the airport. And Teesworks has really divided opinion.
One correspondent raises the issue of delays and cuts to bus services.
Image source, TeesworksThe question of Teesworks has really seen sparks fly.
Ben Houchen said the "great deal" he had negotiated with two businessmen to regenerate the former Redcar Steelworks site was good for the area and it was a deal he would "do every day", adding criticism was "typical politicking".
He said the plans would create 9,000 jobs and see a "return to taxpayers" of £1.3bn.
But Simon Thorley and Chris McEwan were scathing in their criticisms and both said one of their first acts as mayor would be to renegotiate the deal.
Mr Thorley said nothing would be off the table and he could even seek to take legal action "to get that money back to where it belongs", with the taxpayers.
Mr McEwan said understanding had to be sought of "what has gone on here" but Teesworks had the potential to be "at the centre of a green industrial revolution" and the "spear" of the UK becoming a "green energy super power".
Jamie Thomson from The Northern Renewables Centre in Redcar has the third question for our candidates.
He says: "Green technology is going to be vital for this region, especially at Teesworks.
"How are you going to ensure that it’s going to be a success which brings jobs to the local area?”
In answer to the second question about bus services on Teesside -
Labour candidate Chris McEwan said Mr Houchen had "failed to grapple" with the current situation and added fares needed to be capped, with an integrated transport system in place.
Mr Houchen said taking back control of buses would "cost an absolute fortune", with raising mayoral tax "the only power available" to the mayor.
Image source, GoogleMr McEwan said there would be no new taxes.
Liberal Democrat candidate Simon Thorley said the situation was "unsustainable" and added he would bring buses back under the combined authority control and make them a priority over trains.
Luke Walton
Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria
Betty is not the only one with grumbles about her local bus network.
Improving the frequency and reliability of services is frequently cited as a priority for voters.
The number of bus services fell by about 60% in Hartlepool and neighbouring Stockton from 2010 to 2023 according to an analysis by the University of Leeds and Friends of the Earth.
The drop across the North East was 52%.
Image source, GettyOur second question comes from Betty Sweeney, a bus user who lives on the Headland in Hartlepool.
She says: "I live on the Headland and the bus service is not very good. I need to take two buses to get to the hospital.
"What are you going to do about it?"