A DIRECTOR has been appointed to run the body which represents local government in the region.

The Association of North East Councils has appointed Melanie Laws to its top post, following last month's decision to separate the work of the association from the North East Assembly.

Both the assembly and association, which represents the region's 25 councils, were set up in 1999.

The two organisations had been widely expected to have been overshadowed if the public had voted for the proposed elected assembly for the region in last year's referendum.

However, following the overwhelming No vote in November's poll, ministers now say the assembly and association have emerged as playing a key role in the Government's future regional policy.

Mrs Laws, 44, will represent the interests of local authorities and the communities they serve and lobby on behalf of members at regional, national and international level.

She said that, as well as sharing best practice among the region's councils, the association would press the case for a fairer funding deal for the North-East and try to work with the region's MPs and other agencies.

She added: "We are at a really exciting juncture for the association - it clearly has a role as a strong political voice for representing authorities in the North-East and an important lobbying role.

"Local authorities are in a unique position in that they are representative of their local communities and they have never been shy about making their case or championing the region's interests.

"The association takes a strategic view of the region, a mature approach which sees investment in the region, for the region and around the region as a good thing.

"Local authorities are very good at taking that overarching approach and pulling together.

"I am looking forward to it - its a fantastic opportunity."