THE devastating loss of hundreds more North-East jobs at the LG Philips Displays electronics plant has a depressingly familiar ring to it.

Here we go again. Despite the best efforts of a skilled and dedicated workforce, it is cheaper to shift manufacturing jobs abroad - in this case China.

It is hard not to draw the conclusion that the company saw it coming but failed to invest in a workforce that had done everything possible to compete in a constantly-changing marketplace.

Nissan has proved that it is possible to compete globally by investing in North-East workers who have shown they are world-class.

But the region needs more than just Nissan to show that kind of enlightened attitude.

Yet again, the North-East is left to pick up the pieces and put another emergency operation in place to try to support the workers being made redundant.

Everything possible must be done to soften the blow in terms of re-training.

And the Government has to realise that it cannot go on ignoring the region's claims for greater help - through a review of the outdated Barnett Formula - while one manufacturing disaster follows another.

A true hero

SIR Bobby Robson, who was handed the freedom of Newcastle yesterday, will be remembered as one of the true footballing greats.

On top of his knighthood, it's not at all bad for the son of a County Durham miner.

Sir Bobby, we all salute you - even the Sunderland fans amongst us.