FOUR new directors have been appointed to the board of a tourism body.

Visit County Durham (VCD) has recruited: John Holmes, head of property at Durham Cathedral; Sandra Whitefield, owner of Low Urpeth Farm bed and breakfast, near Chester-le-Street; Keith Bell, from Crook Hall and Gardens, in Durham; and Suzanne Duncan, principal of East Durham College.

VCD chairman Ivor Stolliday said: “We are delighted to have people of the calibre of John, Sandra, Keith and Suzanne to take on the position of non-executive directors and help drive our agenda forward.

“Together they possess great knowledge of the area and keen eyes for detail which will be a real benefit to VCD.”

Already on the board were: Beamish Museum director Richard Evans, Durham County Council cabinet member Neil Foster and director Ian Thompson, Radisson Blu Hotel manager Neal Holloway and VCD chief executive Melanie Sensicle.