A LAW firm is proving that Darlington is the place to be for up-and-coming talent.

Latimer Hinks, based in Priestgate, will shortly have seven trainees working at the firm, proving the town can compete with the likes of Leeds or Newcastle.

John Booth, Rosanne Green, Pinna Solanki and Louise Hindmarch joined the firm last September on two and three-year training contracts. Helen Booth and Gillian Perkins will join the line-up later this year.

Natalie Walker has taken a different route, but still expects to qualify as a solicitor in two year's time.

She has been a legal executive at Latimer Hinks for five years, spending one year in New York gaining experience with a US law firm.

She does not need a training contract because she has recently become a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

However, she is being sponsored by Latimer Hinks to study a legal practice course at the College of Law in York after which she will be a qualified solicitor.

The trainees will gain experience in a number of departments within the law practice.

Anne Elliott, a partner at the firm, said: "Firms in towns such as Darlington with specialist solicitors can offer a high quality of work and training, with the added benefit of a less stressful living environment.

"Darlington is a terrific place to work, with excellent road, rail and air links.

"The town offers a good lifestyle with shops and leisure facilities readily accessible, and wonderful countryside and coast within reach.

"We're really pleased we have attracted a record number of young trainees to Latimer Hinks, when not too long ago we only had one or two on our books.

"Getting this number of trainees says a great deal about the quality of our firm and the quality of the area as a whole."