THE National Council of Women, the oldest women's organisation in the country, has moved its head office to the North-East.

The charitable organisation, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year, has relocated to Darlington following the election of its latest president.

National president Amy Gibbs, who lives near Richmond, North Yorkshire, said the move to Darlington would allow her to take charge of the day-to-day running of the group, which has 750 members in the UK.

She said: "We already have a strong support base in the North-East and many of our national officers live locally. Darlington provides good transport routes to the rest of the country, so it will be a good base for us."

The council is an independent voluntary organisation open to any woman.

It was founded in 1895 and has branches in 72 countries around the world. It will keep an office in London for meetings.

Last year, one of its members, Professor Wangari Maathai, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting environmental protection and human rights in her native Kenya.

Mayor of Darlington Roderick Francis attended the launch of the headquarters in Victoria Road, in Darlington, yesterday.