A SENIOR figure from the aviation industry has taken on the role of special advisor to the North-East's tourism taskforce. Ian Reid, British Airways general manager for the UK and Ireland, has joined the interim Regional Tourism Forum, the group established to lead tourism in the North-East. Mr. Reid will help offer independent advice and guidance to One NorthEast, strategic lead body for tourism in the region, and the Northumbria Tourist Board. Mr Reid, who has almost 40 years' experience working for British Airways at airports across the world, has taken responsibility for quality, alongside seven other specialists responsible for areas such as marketing, hospitality, skills and ICT.

BEST BANK: HSBC has been voted the best bank for small businesses by the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA). The UK 200 group, a consortium of leading accountants, also recently named the bank as best for business.

Water plan: Northumbrian Water will unveil its business blueprint up until 2010 today. Managing director John Cuthbert will outline the company's Draft Business Plan for the period 2005 to 2010, at the company's head office in Pity Me, Durham.

NEW BRANCH: Heating and plumbing distributor PTS has opened a branch in the Belmont Industrial Park, near Durham. It has 172 branches nationwide.

credit record: During last month people borrowed a record £7.42bn on their credit cards, but after repayments, outstanding debt on plastic increased by £396m, well up on June's subdued £199m rise but below May's £516m increase