A COUNCIL chief is leaving one hot seat for another where the bullets really fly.

Alan Packer, deputy director of education with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is quitting his job to help in the rebuilding of local government in war-torn Kosovo.

He flies out to the Balkans next month. On contract to the European Union, he will be working as a finance advisor, but knows it will not be easy.

"There is a new crisis in the Balkan region, this time in Macedonia," Mr Packer said. "Ethnic tensions in Macedonia are in danger of erupting.

"Kosovo is already starting to receive refugees from Macedonia. They are now providing to Macedonian people the hospitality they received when the crisis was within Kosovo."

Mr Packer is being joined by his gynaecologist wife, Mary, in October. She will be working in areas of women's health and family planning.

Mr Packer spent six months in Kosovo last year acting as a mentor to local teams rebuilding Kosovo's democratic structures.

He said: "My colleagues have shown a wonderful commitment to public services and I am very pleased to have been part of setting a warm and responsive tone in supporting schools in their achievements.