JOHN COWAN has been appointed manager of Darlington's new Netto store opening in Neasham Road this week.

The 33-year-old will take charge at the 1,000sq ft store, which is creating 25 jobs and is part of the company's expansion drive into the North-East over the next 12 months.

The father-of-three has worked at Netto for 12 years.

Mr Cowan, originally from Middlesbrough, said he was looking forward to the challenge. Netto is a subsidiary of Dansk Supermarket Group, based in Denmark, which has more than 130 stores in the UK.