WHEN created in 1947, Newton Aycliffe was the first new town in the North-East and was built to be a hub of industry and leisure as part of the Government’s regeneration project.

While still having one of the largest industrial estates in the region and with a population of 25,000, the town itself is showing its age.

Yesterday lunchtime, there were only a handful of shoppers milling around the discount stores in the main shopping precinct – a typical daily scene. The newest major employer is a Tesco store on the northern edge of the town, which opened in 2003.

Prior to Hitachi, the most significant new development in the town was an Aldi supermarket, which is still being built and will create 15 jobs as part of the town centre’s refurbishment.

On a bench in the concrete shopping precinct, I came across two women who have lived in the town for more than 30 years.

Mary Cameron worked in a wide variety of jobs before her retirement, while Pauline Bagnall is a support worker for children with learning difficulties.

Ms Cameron said: “I went down to the dole office the other day and it was absolutely packed.

“There are just not enough jobs and I do not think there is enough support to help people find work.

“This town is dead – there’s not many people about and it is very depressing.”

Ms Bagnall said: “Everybody is struggling now and the whole town needs a lift, but we have still got a while to go yet before the factory is built. The sooner the better.”

Retired William Notley, who used to work at an axle company in the town, said: “I like living in this town, but there is not enough for young people to do. This factory and the employment it provides will be very welcome.”

Ronnie Shepherd is the caretaker manager of the Thames Shopping Centre, a small arcade of shops at one end of the town centre.

He said: “Hitachi will be very good for the town, not just the jobs it will produce, but also for the shops in the centre, as more people in employment will mean more money being spent in the local economy.

“Today is a typical day; not a lot happening. It is about time something good came to Newton Aycliffe .”

In a fish and chip shop just behind the main street, the Hitachi news was also welcomed by Andrea Manion, who said: “Newton Aycliffe is down at the minute, everything from the town centre to the people is run down.”

While the trains to be built by Hitachi will benefit the nation’s cities, it is hoped the factory itself will get Newton Aycliffe back on track.