A new figure has taken control of the purse strings for a North police force.

Patrick Melia yesterday took up his post as Durham Constabulary's finance and administration director.

He takes responsibility for overseeing the force's annual budget of almost £95m.

Mr Melia, 35, has undertaken a similar role with Northumbria Probation Service over the past three years, having previously worked as finance and contracting services manager in South Tyneside Borough Council's social services department.

He joined the council after he left school in South Tyneside at the age of 16.

He gained qualifications as a Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountant in 1992, and graduated from Durham University Business School as a Master in Business Administration three years ago.

Mr Melia succeeds Steve Cheston, who retired in May after ten years.

Among Mr Melia's biggest challenges will be the implementation of the recently announced restructuring of the force.

The changes will lead to 100 more community policing officers and 13 uniformed inspectors.

Mr Melia lives with his wife, Janet, and their three daughters, Jennifer, 16, Juliet, six, and four-year-old Rose, in South Shields, South Tyneside, where he is a governor at St Wilfrid's RC School.