WITHIN days of the Black & Decker announcement, The Northern Echo launched its Working For A Future campaign to bring hope to shattered communities.

The decision by the company to lay off the Spennymoor workers followed a long list of closures and cutbacks across the county.

Working For A Future was launched to campaign for more aid for the region and highlight work to build a more prosperous future.

Supporters included Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, North West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong, One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge and Stewart Watkins, the County Durham Development Company executive director.

The campaign has supported initiatives such as June's Wear Valley Jobs Summit, and promoted the work of new businesses..

In July, the Echo rewarded water cooler and dehumidifier manufacturer Ebac, of St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, for its dedication to the region with the inaugural Working For A Future Award at the County Durham Business Show.

A spokesperson for One NorthEast said: "The situation is improving and The Northern Echo's campaign continues to have the backing of One NorthEast, mirroring the agency in a commitment to regenerate the area through sustainable job and business creation."

Mr Foster said: "Working For A Future has certainly assisted by drawing attention to efforts being made and creating a sense of ambition by encouraging new business start-ups."

Hobby that was just the business

A WEARDALE man who turned his lifelong hobby into a career after he became one of 147 axed workers when a cement works closed is already expanding.

Former British quad bike champion Paul Anderson, 37, based his business on his pastime, using his mechanical skills and working knowledge of quad bikes, to service and sell the vehicles

His firm, Anderson ATV, was one of the first to feature in The Northern Echo's Working For A Future campaign.

Mr Anderson used his redundancy money, savings and grants from Durham County and Wear Valley District Councils to start out in a small unit on Wolsingham Industrial Estate following the closure of the LeFarge works, in Eastgate.

He will soon move to premises almost six times as big, on the same estate, to open a sales showroom, and has secured a franchise to sell the E-ton quad range.

He said: "The coverage I got in the newspaper certainly helped. Lots of customers knew about me because they read about the business in The Echo.

"I wouldn't be able to move to a larger site, where the overheads are massively different, if I wasn't confident that the business will continue to do well and I hope to employ an apprentice in the near future."