TEN years ago this week, Nissan secured thousands of jobs across the region by unveiling a £55m project to build its latest car.

The company’s newest model was to be built at its Washington plant, near Sunderland, safeguarding 1,200 jobs.

Politicians, business leaders and trade union chiefs praised the company and said the plans were a boost for manufacturing in the region.

Chief executive and president, Carlos Ghosn said the quality of the workforce and management was the primary reason it had been chosen for the new model.

He said: "I'm very impressed with the Sunderland plant. It's a plant where we trust the workforce and we trust the management.

"When they commit to a level of performance, they deliver – and usually do even better."

Also, that week, for the first time in its 138-year history, The Northern Echo changed colour.

On World Environment Day the paper published on recycled green newsprint to highlight the importance of tackling environmental challenges.

The paper was also retitled for one day only as The Northern Eco and saw 15-year-old Jack White from Houghton-le-Spring, who was serving as the North-East's Climate Change Champion, take on the role of guest editor for the day.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that more than £1m had been raised for Cancer Research UK by women taking part in Darlington’s Race for Life since the event started five years ago.

Nearly 4,000 people entered the Race for Life which took place in South Park in Darlington.

The race was started by Natasha Dinsdale, 31, from Hawes, North Yorkshire.

Mrs Dinsdale, who ran the race with her six-year-old daughter Izzie and sister, Faye Lindsay, survived breast cancer last year.

She said: "It was very emotional starting the race.

"I nearly cried, and I was very nervous, but I was also so honoured to be asked. There's thousands of women with the same stories as me, and to be asked to do it was wonderful.

"I feel full of life now and I feel so privileged and grateful."