A COUNCIL officer is leaving his post to take up a hot seat in Kosovo.

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 Kosovo. He flies out to the Balkans next month.

Mr Packer, who will be working on contract to the European Union as a finance advisor, knows it will not be easy.

"There is a new crisis in the Balkan region, this time in Macedonia. 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,'' he said.

He is being joined by his wife, Mary, a gynaecologist, in October. She will be working in 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.

Of his time at Redcar, 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.''