THE woman appointed to lead improvements to community safety and quality of life in Darlington was introduced to a gathering of the town's leading representatives yesterday.

Jane Brown, the first chief executive of the Darlington Partnership, was presented to the second meeting of the Darlington Assembly at the town's Dolphin Centre.

More than 100 representatives of businesses, voluntary organisations and Darlington Borough Council were among those who attended the six-monthly event.

The partnership's chairman, Alasdair MacConachie, and general manager Rumana Ramzan gave an overview of the good work the organisation has already done before introducing 36-year-old Mrs Brown, from York.

She resigned as director of the Safer York Partnership to take up the Darlington post.

The meeting also included a presentation on the Community Strategy Process, by Darlington Borough Council policy advisor John Bosson, and a talk on community involvement by Bill Cook, chairman of the Darlington Residents' Panel