A YEAR ago, a community was rocked when almost 1,000 workers were told that their jobs were being axed.

Power tool giants Black & Decker announced it was to cut 950 jobs from its plant at Spennymoor, County Durham, to transfer assembly and packaging operations to the Czech Republic.

Most of the jobs - 550 permanent and 400 temporary - have now gone, but many workers have found a new lease of life with a career change or by starting their own businesses.

According to Black & Decker, 97 per cent of workers have found alternative employment.

A spokesperson for the company said: "Many now work in the service sector, while others have started up their own businesses.

"The remaining few have decided to take early retirement, a career break or have made alternative plans."

The company has promised to support staff still facing compulsory redundancy through an out-placement service and the local JobCentre has set up a jobs, training and benefit advice shop on-site.

Regeneration and business agencies also pledged to help the area bounce back.

Government regeneration agency One NorthEast is considering £36m of plans submitted by the County Durham Economic Partnership.

And it is pressing ahead with a £2.5m county-wide broadband link-up project to offer better Internet access to remote areas.

The agency has also administered a series of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants, including £700,000 to help lighting manufacturer Balmer Lindley move to the former Sanyo building, in Newton Aycliffe, to create 160 jobs.

In the past 12 months, County Durham Development Company has helped 83 projects that are expected to create 890 jobs in Teesdale, Wear Valley and Sedgefield - those districts directly affected by job cuts at Black & Decker and other firms.