A town of innovation, inspiration and much invention.

STOCKTON is no stranger to inspiration and invention.

One of the town's famous sons, John Walker was the brains behind the invention of the friction match in 1826.

And the Stockton to Darlington line was the birthplace of the railways.

Today products are used across the country - and the globe - because of the hard work of firms in the borough.

From your morning brew to manufacturing and green power - you'll find them all in Stockton.

The area remains one that drives development and innovation.

And regeneration is creating new opportunities right across the borough.

Millions of pounds are being ploughed into investment in regeneration schemes.

The pounds 320m North Shore scheme aims to create a new community on the banks of the Tees at Stockton.

There's already a clear sign of the progress being made with the recent opening of the pounds 15m Infinity Bridge.

And designs for the scheme have now received outline planning permission.

The 23-hectare site will eventually include nearly 1,000 new homes, a business park, hotel accommodation, leisure and retail facilities, a healthcare facility and car dealership.

A report to Stockton planning committee said the development was likely to create around 325 permanent full-time jobs during construction and up to 4,600 jobs on the site when finished.

Thornaby's revival includes the pounds 30m redevelopment of The Pavilion Shopping Centre.

And Billingham Forum is to close at the end of the month to allow its pounds 15m redevelopment to begin.

Firms in sectors ranging from food and drink to chemicals and the motor trade are driving development in Stockton.

Next time you make yourself a cuppa - think about Stockton.

Eaglescliffe is home to the Tetley teabag factory - which is celebrating its 40th birthday and produces a massive 200 million bags a week.

The site accounts for all the company's UK production and its teabags end up in teapots and mugs in more than 60 countries.

Another drinks expert with its roots in Eaglescliffe is Thorncroft Drinks which makes a range of award-winning premium cordials and ready-to-serve sparkling drinks which are stocked by supermarket giants including Tesco and Asda.

Its products quench thirsts around the globe - and are exported to almost 30 countries world wide.

Stockton is home to some award-winning companies whose skills and expertise have earned top honours.

An innovative Billingham firm was recently named the best in business in the North-east.

Tracerco was crowned Company of the Year at the North-east final of the nebusiness awards 2008.

Tracerco employs around 300 staff - with 130 based at its global headquarters in Billingham.

It also had much to celebrate after receiving the prestigious Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2009.

The company, which began as a small scientific research team at ICI's Billingham site in 1958, has continued to expand its product range and geographical reach and now has 28 operations around the globe It has developed the Profiler, which is used to accurately measure and control the process of oil and gas separation - and is now used around the world.

Another successful manufacturer - and nebusiness award winner - is Nifco UK which, from its Yarm Road factory in Stockton, produces a vast range of moulded plastic components.

Employing almost 200 staff, it has the capacity to produce a diverse range of products in three main areas - industrial plastic fasteners for both automotive and electronic applications; functional interior trim products for the automotive industry and power train and under bonnet products.

The firm was named the North-east's top manufacturer at the nebusiness awards after triumphing at the Tees Valley heat.

Innovation has also seen Stockton firms rise to the top of their markets.

Wells Integrated Cabling Systems now works with major blue chip companies and has installed control technology on real time public information systems for more than 25 local transport authorities..

The firm has transformed from a fledgling start-up to an international market leader.

The area is also working hard when it comes to the environmental agenda.

A pounds 200m biomass station is being planned for Bilingham.

Renewable energy firm Gaia Power, based in Yarm, is seeking planning consent from Stockton Council to build the plant.

The project will create 50 permanent jobs during the power station's operation, along with 50 supply chain positions. It will sustain around 400 more jobs during construction if plans for the wood-fired plant on Able UK-owned land at the site of a former power station at the Billingham Reach Industrial Estate are approved.

The power station, which could be completed in 2012, would be fuelled by around 275,000 tonnes of recycled wood a year in chipped form.

The plant will be designed to provide power to the electricity system at a rate of 45MW - and so will produce enough in a year to supply more than 80,000 homes.

It would be the first of its kind in Stockton borough and would contribute to the council's national indicators across the region to reduce its carbon footprint. It would save around 436,000 tonnes per year of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide compared with a similar size coal-fired power station.

So from manufacturing and the green agenda to regeneration and investment, it's clear Stockton has plenty to be proud of..

CAPTION(S):

THIRST QUENCHING: Drinks and cordial juice which Thorncroft exports around the world AWARD WINNER: Tracerco's senior science and technology specialist Peter Jackson h d l d h fil l h f il d i who developed the profiler to control the process of oil and gas separation