TANYA Gray has been appointed senior executive for sports and economic development as part of an initiative between One North-East, Sport England and North-East Sport.

The post is the only one in the UK and involves developing and putting into action a plan focusing on how sport can be used to add value to economic development in the North-East.

After completing her PhD in economic geography at Durham University, where she also worked as a project consultant with the Tees Valley voluntary and community sector, Ms Gray became European policy officer at the North-East regional assembly. In the last year, she has been a regional package co-ordinator employed by North Tyneside Council, seconded to One NorthEast to deal with European funding.

The position comes into being at a topical time. Heightened awareness of the effects of sport were evidenced by last year's Ryder Cup bid, which was universally praised and had brought the whole region together in collective support for a single cause.

The Ryder Cup bid also introduced the Extra Golf initiative , piloted in the region, which took plastic clubs into schools to encourge new players.