NORTH-East businessman TIM CANTLE-JONES is to spend a year on Sport England's national board.

The 44-year-old, who is chairman of Sport England's regional sports board, is director of the event management and marketing company Polar Productions.

He will join Lord Carter of Coles, football pundit Garth Crooks, Andrew Foster, former controller of the Audit Commission, and David Ross, Carphone Warehouse director, on the board.

Mr Cantle-Jones said: "The regional sports boards are still in the early stages of existence, but we have embraced our roles in helping to shape the sporting landscape for our local communities, clubs and rising sports people."