TWO new members have been elected to the North- East Assembly.

Christine Dobson, volunteering manager for the Women's Royal Voluntary Service in the North-East, has taken one of the voluntary and community sector seats on the assembly.

Jimmy Robinson, project director of the Wearmouth Community Development Trust, in Sunderland, was elected to the second seat.

The pair will be in charge of promoting voluntary and community sector groups in the region.

Ray Cowell, of Voluntary Organisations Network North-East, which elected the couple, said: "We are delighted Christine and Jimmy will be the voluntary and community sector representatives.

"They are bringing a wide range of experience to the roles, and I am confident that they will promote the voluntary and community sector and the issues and concerns that are important to voluntary organisations across the region."

Both have accepted their new appointments as a chance to give the voluntary sector a voice in the community.