A MAN who has helped put Bishop Auckland on the map is taking up a new challenge.

For town centre manager Derek Toon - who had planned to retire at the end of this month - has instead been appointed clerk of the new town council.

Mr Toon, who has worked closely with the town centre forum and local businesses to promote Bishop Auckland, won an Association of Town Centre Management award last year, for his work on an access survey.

He also set up the Bishop Auckland website, which attracts more than 100,000 hits a month.

Mr Toon said: "I feel very proud to have been given this opportunity, and it is a new challenge

"My new role will be a lot more administrative than my last job, so it will be a nice change.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time as town centre manager, but it was time to move on. All the volunteers and Wear Valley District Council have been very supportive during my time there."

Mr Toon leaves his job as town centre manager on August 31 and begins his new role the following day.

Councillor Barbara Laurie, Bishop Auckland's mayor, said: "We were very pleased to inform Derek that he had been selected for the town clerk position.

"He couldn't be beaten because his knowledge of the area is so vast.

"He can use skills from his previous position here, we are very much looking forward to working with him."