THE chief executive of a national visitor centre dedicated to glass making has resigned - the fifth to leave in as many years.

The trustees of the National Glass Centre (NGC) in Sunderland said they had accepted the resignation of Vicky Nicholls because of ill health.

NGC chairman, Professor Peter Fidler, vice chancellor of Sunderland University, said in a statement: "Vicky has made an excellent contribution and it is with great regret that we have accepted her resignation. She has our very best wishes for the future.

"The previous chief executive, Jules Preston, has returned to the centre on a temporary basis, to take charge until a new chief executive is appointed.

"He will be pressing ahead with a redevelopment programme, including refurbishment of the centre's roof, a redesign of the Kaleidoscope Gallery and an expansion of the centre's education programme.

Ms Nicholls, who was appointed in May last year, was the fifth chief executive in five years, after the NGC's first director Shiona Airlie walked out three months before its opening.

Last July, the Arts Council accepted the NGC on to its recovery programme for ailing arts organisations, agreeing to pump in £726,000 of Lottery funding over two years.