ONE of the best known environmentalists in the region is leaving his job with Northumbrian Water.

Dr Chris Spray, 50, environment director since 1997, has been named as the director of environmental science with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Scottish version of the Environment Agency.

He will be based in Stirling and take up his job overseeing the agency's monitoring of environmental areas such as water quality and habitat preservation in July.

He joined Northumbrian Water in 1991 and became environment director six years later.

During his time with the company, he has overseen its environmental programme, which has included protecting habitats for a range of rare species and developing closer links with organisations such as English Nature, wildlife trusts and the RSPB.

He was one of the prime movers behind the creation of the Durham Biodiversity Partnership, which brings conservation agencies and businesses together to protect habitats, and is on the board of the Industry Nature Conservation Association, which works with businesses on Teesside to create wildlife habitats.

Dr Spray is involved with other organisations and national bodies and has travelled the world addressing conferences about his work in the North-East.

He said: "I am leaving for a wonderful challenge, it is very exciting."

* A full interview with Dr Spray will appear in the Business Echo supplement on Tuesday, May 11.