THE view from a train window has provided the inspiration for some memorable poetic musings.

Budding Betjemans travelling on the East Coast Main Line from 2018 can do their own window gazing through glass provided by a 70-year-old firm from Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham.

Two and a half years after it was rescued from administration following a cash crisis, Romag has won the five-year deal to supply carriage windows for Hitachi trains.

Romag, now part of Sunderland-based Gentoo Group, is one of the UK’s leading independent glass processors and the contract win is testament to the skills of its 100 North-East staff.

Train builder Hitachi has repeatedly claimed it would use as many local suppliers as possible for its £82m plant in Newton Aycliffe – adding the crucial caveat that only firms that meet strict quality, safety and cost requirements will be handed work.

I want as many North-East suppliers as possible to be involved in the landmark project but also understand that there should be fierce and fair competition for deals to build the factory itself and the trains that will begin to roll off the production line in 2017.

THOUSANDS of youngsters face a sleepless night ahead of tomorrow’s A-level results.

For those for whom university isn’t an option, financially or academically, apprenticeships offer an increasingly popular route into work.

New data from research company ICM reveals that 47 per cent of young people in the region would choose to do an apprenticeship if one were available.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) last year saw a record number of applications for apprenticeships on A-level results day, and with up to 17,000 vacancies now available online at any one time, it is expecting to be inundated with prospective trainees this week.

The NAS has called on more employers in the North-East to offer young people the chance to earn while they learn. Research has shown that employers find apprentices more employable than young people with other qualifications and more likely to offer their business a long-term return as they stay loyal to their employer.

There are still serious concerns that some apprenticeships offer substandard training and ,in the rush to boost numbers, the Government has failed to maintain a quality service.

But when they are run properly, apprenticeships are a great career route.

For more information about apprenticeships and to search and apply for job vacancies visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000-150-600.

BEER lovers are being urged to drink more to help stop pub closures and push the industry back into growth.

If the millions of people who go to a pub bought only one extra pint a month, the fortunes of Britain’s locals would receive a huge boost, said campaigners.

The Campaign for Real Ale said nearly two out of five pub-goers were visiting a pub less often than a year ago, leading to a slump in sales.

After spending most of last week staggering between the brilliant pubs of Langdale, in the Lake District, I can say, hand on heart, that I’m doing my bit for the beleaguered British pub trade. Are you?