EXPERIENCED city centre manager Ken Mackie has stepped into the breach to answer a call in the North-East - 200 miles from his familiar stamping ground.

Mr Mackie retired last July at the age of 65 after 11 years promoting Wolverhampton city centre, in the West Midlands.

During his stint, the Black Country capital earned city status as part of the millennium celebrations.

Mr Mackie previously served for 30 years as a police officer in the West Midlands, ending up as an inspector in the Wolverhampton area.

Since July, Mr Mackie has acted as a consultant in city centre management and, as such, has now found himself in unfamiliar territory, but already a convert to the attractions of Durham.

City centre manager Chris Rawlinson stepped down after 18 months in Durham in mid-December, and Mr Mackie was brought in by city traders at short notice to fill the post.

He said: "I've done a little bit of consultancy and a couple of conferences since I left the job in Wolverhampton, so I'm still in the market.

"This came up and although it's a long trip north, I thought I would give it a go.

"It's a real contrast to Wolverhampton, but although I'm a newcomer, I really like the place, it's very attractive.

"Durham is smaller and more compact than Wolverhampton, but it's got some great natural advantages. Wolverhampton would have torn your arm off for a river, a cathedral and a castle."

"With these, Durham expects tourists to come, but perhaps some of the selling of Durham has not been as good as it might have been in the past."

Mr Mackie said although his stay may only be for a few months, he hopes to make a contribution to help promote Durham as a shopping and visitor centre.

He said: "Durham needs to sell itself more, it's everyone's responsibility, but a big part of my job is to build partnerships to get people working together.

"I may only be here for a few months, but I don't just want to fill in, I want to make a contribution and may be I can put a few ideas forward which people can generate long after I'm gone."

Mr Mackie is married with three daughters, two of whom live in Australia.