Teesside is a built-up area around the River Tees in North East England, split between County Durham and North Yorkshire.
Created in 1968 by the merger of the county borough of Middlesbrough; the municipal boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Thornaby-on-Tees, and Redcar (except for a very small part); most of the urban districts of Billingham and Eston; smaller portions of the urban districts of Guisborough, Saltburn, and Marske-by-the-Sea; and parts of the rural districts of Stockton andStokesley. Boulby Cliff, the highest cliff on the English coastline, was within its borders. In 1974, however, Teesside split into the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Langbaurgh (now Redcar and Cleveland).

The area covered by Hartlepool lies to the North of the Cleveland Fire Authority Area and consists ofeleven local wards and two fire stations (one wholetime, one on-call). These Wards range from areas of high social deprivation to areas of executive housing. The current population is over 93,000 living in over 42,500 homes. The town has a rich maritime history and has recently held a ‘Tall Ships’ event, with over 30 vessels attending. Its marina is home to the last remaining Royal Navy ship to be built in India, HMS Trincomalee, which is the oldest floating British warship and the last of Admiral Lord Nelson’s Frigates.

The area covered by Middlesbrough is in the centre of the Cleveland Fire Authority Area and consists of 23 local wards. It is the most densely populated and urbanised authority in Cleveland. Middlesbrough is bounded by the River Tees, North Yorkshire Moors National Park and two other local authorities. The current population is over 140,000 living in over 60,000 homes and is covered by three fire stations, all wholetime. Teesside University is located in the heart of the town and has been named among the Universities of the Year. Middlesborough is also home of a Championship football club and the Transporter Bridge’. The bridge, its winch house and piers are grade II listed and is the longest existing transporter bridge in the world.

The area covered by Redcar & Cleveland lies to the east of the Cleveland Fire Authority Area and consists of 22 local wards. These wards range from large built up areas to small rural villages whichback onto heavy industry. The current population is over 136,000 living in over 62,000 homes and is covered by 6 fire stations (one whole time, one wholetime/on-call and four on-call). It boasts one of the longest unbroken beaches with one of the few remaining piers in the country. In contrast the area also has large areas of countryside, with its most famous landmark being Roseberry Topping with its distinctive half-cone shaped summit.

The area covered by Stockton lies to the west of the Cleveland Fire Authority Area and consists of 26 local wards. These wards range from areas of high social deprivation to areas of executive housing. The current population is over 196,000 living in over 83,000 homes, covered by four fire stations (one on-call, two wholetime, and onewholetime/on call). Boasting the widest high street in the country, it is also home to HM Bark Endeavour, which is one of only two full-scale replicas in the world of the famous bark commanded by explorer Captain James Cook on his voyage to Australia and New Zealand.