A REGENERATION group has appointed a new manager to oversee its work in the region.

John Ford will be responsible for the day-to-day running of North Hartlepool Partnership.

The group is spearheading the multi-million pound regeneration of the town's Headland area in a ten-year programme up to 2007.

Mr Ford, who is 43 and comes from Jarrow, Newcastle, takes over from Richard Spencer who has been interim manager for the past six months