THE director of two of the region's most influential groups has stepped down.

Stephen Barber, director of the North-East Assembly and Association of North-East Councils for more than seven years, yesterday left his posts as part of a review of the structure of both bodies.

The decision, which was widely anticipated, follows a report recommending the two organisations be separated.

Melanie Laws has already been appointed as the new director of the association, taking up her post tomorrow, while former Easington District Council chief executive Paul Wilding was yesterday named interim director of the assembly.

Mr Barber played a key role in setting up the assembly, which became operational in 1999 and has since become the regional planning body for the North-East.

Both bodies have lobbied for a fairer deal for the region and Mr Barber has been instrumental in campaigns to narrow the North-South Divide, bring civil service jobs to the region through the Lyons Review and helped shape the Northern Way strategy.

He has also publicly defended the unelected assembly - and its ongoing role in the Government's regional policy - in the wake of growing calls for its abolition in the aftermath of November's overwhelming referendum vote against setting up a directly-elected alternative.

Mr Barber said: "I believe that the current review of staffing structures, which seeks to create a greater distinction between the association and the assembly in terms of their role, remit and functions represents the right way forward."